Summary1. A series of 280 tracheostomies from St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, is reported.2. Indications for operation are classified and figures presented to show that the operation is more common than formerly.3. Operative techniques are described.4. Complications, in particular those relating to cuffed tubes, are tabulated.5. A case report of tracheo‐arterial fistula is added to the literature.6. Overall mortality was 40 per cen