Abstract
Emergency tracheotomies were performed in 22 cases because of dyspnea due to upper airway stenosis. In 15 of those cases, tracheotomies were first tried and successfully performed. With 7 other cases, tracheal intubasions were done prior to their tracheotomies, however, in 2 cases with deep neck abscess, tracheal intubation was impossible because of severe laryngeal edemas. In one case, a percutaneous cricothyroid puncture was successfully performed. We understood that performing a percutaneous cricothyroid puncture was necessary in some cases. Training in various types of airway maintenance techniques and accurately choosing from among them is required for emergent treatment of airway obstruction.
