cricotracheotomy

cricotracheotomy

 [kri″ko-tra″ke-ot´ah-me] incision of the trachea through the cricoid cartilage.

cricotracheotomy

An obsolete surgical procedure for providing access to the trachea for relief of upper airway obstruction, in which the incision was extended superiorly into the cricoid cartilage and upper tracheal rings; the operation fell into disrepute given the risk of supraglottic stenosis, and has been superseded by other procedures.