OBJECTIVES : To determine the results of posterior cricoid split with costal cartilage graft in the treatment of moderate and severe subglottic stenosis in adults, and to assess the effect of T-tube as a stent in this surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS : Four adults with moderate and severe subglottic stenosis who underwent posterior cricoid split with costal cartilage graft from 1994 to 1995. Three patients were male and one was female. All of the patients had acquired subglottic stenosis, 2 of whom had a bilateral vocal folds paralysis. The surgical procedure we used included a cricoid lamina split with costal cartilage grafting and T-tube stenting. Arytenoidectomy was a added in 2 patients with bilateral vocal folds paralysis. RESULTS : Three of the 4 patients underwent decannulation, and 1 is still undergoing treatment. 3 patients who underwent decannulation demonstrated marked improvement in their symptoms of airway obstruction and good postoperative voice quality. CONCLUSIONS : The posterior cricoidotomy lumen augmentation with costal cartilage grafting is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of moderate and severe subglottic stenosis in adults and T-tube is a good alternative stenting material for this procedure.