Morphometry of the thyroid cartilage, epiglottis and piriform sinus: An anatomical study

Background

The goal was to measure the piriform sinus, epiglottis, and thyroid cartilage in our sample population.

Methods

This study included 22 adult embalmed cadavers available in the Department of Anatomy. Dimensions were measured using a digital Vernier caliper.

Results

The mean height of the thyroid laminae was 27 ± 1.4 mm at the right side and 25.5 ± 1.4 mm at the left side. Mean width of the thyroid lamina was 27.1 ± 1.3 mm at the right side and 27.4 ± 0.9 mm at the left side. The mean thickness of thyroid cartilage was found to be 4.4 ± 0.4 mm and 3.9 ± 0.5 mm over the right and left sides. The mean length, width and thickness of the epiglottis were 29.1 ± 0.5 mm, 22.2 ± 0.6 mm and 2.6 ± 0.3 mm correspondingly. The height, width and thickness of the right piriform sinus were 25 ± 0.5 mm, 14.2 ± 0.5 mm and 12.6 ± 0.5 mm, the same parameters were 25.3 ± 1.3 mm, 15.1 ± 0.7 mm and 13.3 ± 0.4 mm for the left side.

Conclusions

The height and thickness of the thyroid cartilage were greater on the right side than on the left side (p<0.05). It was statistically observed that the width and thickness were greater on the left side than on the right side (p < 0.05). The data about the height, width and thickness of the thyroid cartilage, epiglottis and piriform sinus are essential during the laryngeal and other neck surgeries. They guide in the preoperative positioning, predicting the difficulty of intraoperative exposure and retractor pulling.

Feasibility of sonographic access to the cricothyroid membrane in the presence of a rigid neck collar in healthy Chinese adults: A prospective cohort study

Objectives

(1) To study the dimensions of cricothyroid membranes (CTMs) in healthy Chinese adults in two neck positions, one with rigid neck collar (RNC) and neck extended by ultrasonography (USG). (2) To evaluate how body habitus and neck positions may affect the access time of CTMs, and thus the feasibility for ultrasound‐guided cricothyroidotomy.

Methods

We scanned 39 adult staff of a local emergency department. Their CTMs were measured by two emergency physicians (EP) separately. The subjects' gender, weight, height, age, neck circumferences and BMI were collected. Image qualities (graded in ‘inadequate, adequate and good’) and image acquisition time of the CTMs were also recorded to ascertain proper CTM measurements.

Results

The mean depth of the CTM (neck extended) was 5.6 mm, and the standard deviation (SD) was 1.52. The mean depth (with RNC) was 5.97mm with SD 1.61. The mean length of the CTM (mm ± SD) with the neck extended and with the RNC was 10.5 ± 2.15 and 9.97 ± 2.24, respectively. The median image acquisition time for neck extended was 6.36s with interquartile range (IQR) of 2.32–8.4 s, while for RNC the median time was 5.60 s (IQR = 3.71–7.49; P = 0.539). Image acquisition time between the first and the second sonographers was similar. All subjects’ CTM could be identified readily by USG.

Conclusions

The CTM can be located quickly and reliably by bedside USG, even in overweight/obese persons with or without an RNC in place. We recommend that further study on the feasibility of bedside cricothyroidotomy with RNC kept on should be explored.

Ultrasound as an Assessment Method in Predicting Difficult Intubation: A Prospective Clinical Study

Objective

Aim of the study is to predict the difficulty in intubation preoperatively using ultrasonography.

Methods

One hundred and thirty-seven patients underwent ultrasound followed by surgery under general anesthesia. A experienced radiologist examined the airway and performed measurements of specific airway parameters: visualization of hyoid bone, visualization of vocal cords through thyroid cartilage, visualization of epiglottis, distance from base of tongue to hyoid bone, distance of hyomental region distance of thyrohyoid region, distance between skin and fat pad thickness to thyroid cartilage, thickness of submental region, distance from epiglottis to skin (above hyoid), and visualization of cricothyroid membrane. After performing ultrasound, patient was presented for surgery. An experienced anesthesiologist who is associated with this study did all the laryngoscopy and intubation.

Results

We were able to visualize all relevant anatomical structures in all the participants using ultrasound. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis results showed that hyomental is ≤ 1.09 (P value < 0.01) to classify difficult in intubation.

Conclusion

The study shows that ultrasound can reliably image all the airway structures. This study suggests that hyomental distance is a more valid criterion in predicting difficult intubation. Further, case control study is needed for assessing the ease of intubation.