Subglottic bronchoscopic view for percutaneous tracheostomy placement

The bronchoscope and the endotracheal tube with the cuff deflated are pulled back and placed at the level of the conus elasticus in the subglottis. Note that the conus elasticus is the only circular structure in the subglottic área, without a posterior membranous tracheal wall. It represents the lateral portion of the cricothyroid ligament.