Retrograde tracheal intubation using an epidural catheter through cricothyroid membrane was performed on a 54-year-old male patient suffering from back pain in the L4-5 area who needed anesthesia and operation. Several attempts of usual endotracheal and blind nasotracheal intubation failed. The external features of the head and neck were normal, but the epiglottis was short and hypertrophied and the vocal cords were not exposed during intubation. While the patient was awake, and after adequate local anesthesia was obtained, a 16 gauge angiocatheter of extracatheter type was punctured through the cricothyroid membrane. The stylet of the angiocatheter was removed with the opening of the catheter facing upward toward the larynx. An epidural catheter was passed through the angiocatheter and advanced into the oral cavity. After the introduction of the epidural catheter through the endotracheal tube (I.D. 7. 5 mm), the patient was intubated sucessfully under the guidance of the epidural catheter.