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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The method of open tracheostomy, which was originally standardized by Jackson¹ in 1909, was the mainstay of "interventional" airway management for more than 40 years. In 1955, Shelden et al² described a percutaneous approach in which a cutting trocar was used to form the tracheostomy. This approach was modified later using a Seldinger technique,³ which in turn was refined by Ciaglia et al⁴ and Griggs et al⁵ using a system of serial dilators and dilator forceps, respectively.

The 2 approaches have been extensively compared with one another, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are well documented in the literature.^6-7 It is likely that controversy will always exist over which method is superior, although certain scenarios preclude the use of the percutaneous method, eg, for patients with bleeding disorders, prior irradiation, goiter, or short, squat necks.

Ultimately, the 2 major complications that arise in both procedures are bleeding and/or false . . . [Full Text of this Article]