TY - JOUR
T1 - Acoustic reflectometry and endotracheal intubation
AU - Eckmann, David M.
AU - Glassenberg, Raymond
AU - Gavriely, Noam
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - To determine whether acoustic reflection measurement of the upper airway can be used to identify tracheas that are difficult to intubate, we conducted a pilot study of adults with a documented history of unexpected failed endotracheal intubation (16 cases) and compared them with 16 controls with previous successful intubation. The two groups were matched by age, sex, height, and weight. Acoustic reflection measurements of airway cross sectional area versus distance were made at six combinations of body (upright and supine) and neck (flexed, neutral, and extended) positions. Cumulative airway volumes were calculated from the incisors to the glottis, and these were subdivided into oral and pharyngeal volumes. For supine position with the neck extended, all patients who had been successfully intubated had pharyngeal volumes more than 43.4 mL (mean ± SD, 56.9 ± 8.3 mL), whereas pharyngeal volumes were less than 37.5 mL in all patients who had a history of unexpected failed intubation (mean ± SD, 19.7 ± 10.2 mL; P < 0.05). Using a cutoff of 40.2 mL, acoustic reflection enabled us to distinguish between patients with previous unexpected failed endotracheal intubation and those with previous successful intubation.
AB - To determine whether acoustic reflection measurement of the upper airway can be used to identify tracheas that are difficult to intubate, we conducted a pilot study of adults with a documented history of unexpected failed endotracheal intubation (16 cases) and compared them with 16 controls with previous successful intubation. The two groups were matched by age, sex, height, and weight. Acoustic reflection measurements of airway cross sectional area versus distance were made at six combinations of body (upright and supine) and neck (flexed, neutral, and extended) positions. Cumulative airway volumes were calculated from the incisors to the glottis, and these were subdivided into oral and pharyngeal volumes. For supine position with the neck extended, all patients who had been successfully intubated had pharyngeal volumes more than 43.4 mL (mean ± SD, 56.9 ± 8.3 mL), whereas pharyngeal volumes were less than 37.5 mL in all patients who had a history of unexpected failed intubation (mean ± SD, 19.7 ± 10.2 mL; P < 0.05). Using a cutoff of 40.2 mL, acoustic reflection enabled us to distinguish between patients with previous unexpected failed endotracheal intubation and those with previous successful intubation.
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U2 - 10.1097/00000539-199611000-00033
DO - 10.1097/00000539-199611000-00033
M3 - Article
C2 - 8895291
AN - SCOPUS:0029858567
SN - 0003-2999
VL - 83
SP - 1084
EP - 1089
JO - Anesthesia and analgesia
JF - Anesthesia and analgesia
IS - 5
ER -