<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_jou.2017.0033_s_001"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Internal neck anatomy landmarks and their relation after placement of an extraglottic airway devices have not been studied extensively by the use of ultrasound. Based on our group experience with external landmarks as well as internal landmarks evaluation with other techniques, we aimed use ultrasound to analyze the internal neck anatomy landmarks and the related changes due to the placement of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique.</p></sec><sec id="j_jou.2017.0033_s_002"><h3>Methods</h3><p>Observational pilot investigation. Non-obese adult patients with no evidence of airway anomalies, were recruited. External neck landmarks were measured based on a validated and standardized method by tape. Eight internal anatomical landmarks, reciprocal by the investigational hypothesis to the external landmarks, were also measured by ultrasound guidance. The internal landmarks were re-measured after optimal placement and inflation of the extraglottic airway devices cuff Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique.</p></sec><sec id="j_jou.2017.0033_s_003"><h3>Results</h3><p>Six subjects were recruited. Ultrasound measurements of hyoid-mental distance, thyroid-cricoid distance, thyroid height, and thyroid width were found to be significantly (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05) overestimated using a tape measure. Sagittal neck landmark distances such as thyroid height, sternal-mental distance, and thyroid-cricoid distance significantly decreased after placement of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique.</p></sec><sec id="j_jou.2017.0033_s_004"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The laryngeal mask airway Unique resulted in significant changes in internal neck anatomy. The induced changes and respective specific internal neck anatomy landmarks could help to design devices that would modify their shape accordingly to areas of greatest displacement. Also, while external neck landmark measurements overestimate their respective internal neck landmarks, as we previously reported, the concordance of each measurement and their respective conversion factor could continue to be of help in sizing extraglottic airway devices. Due to the pilot nature of the study, more investigations are warranted.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionInternal neck anatomy landmarks and their relation after placement of an extraglottic airway devices have not been studied extensively by the use of ultrasound. Based on our group experience with external landmarks as well as internal landmarks evaluation with other techniques, we aimed use ultrasound to analyze the internal neck anatomy landmarks and the related changes due to the placement of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique.MethodsObservational pilot investigation. Non-obese adult patients with no evidence of airway anomalies, were recruited. External neck landmarks were measured based on a validated and standardized method by tape. Eight internal anatomical landmarks, reciprocal by the investigational hypothesis to the external landmarks, were also measured by ultrasound guidance. The internal landmarks were re-measured after optimal placement and inflation of the extraglottic airway devices cuff Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique.ResultsSix subjects were recruited. Ultrasound measurements of hyoid-mental distance, thyroid-cricoid distance, thyroid height, and thyroid width were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) overestimated using a tape measure. Sagittal neck landmark distances such as thyroid height, sternal-mental distance, and thyroid-cricoid distance significantly decreased after placement of the Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique.ConclusionThe laryngeal mask airway Unique resulted in significant changes in internal neck anatomy. The induced changes and respective specific internal neck anatomy landmarks could help to design devices that would modify their shape accordingly to areas of greatest displacement. Also, while external neck landmark measurements overestimate their respective internal neck landmarks, as we previously reported, the concordance of each measurement and their respective conversion factor could continue to be of help in sizing extraglottic airway devices. Due to the pilot nature of the study, more investigations are warranted.

Ultrasound comparison of external and internal neck anatomy with the LMA Unique

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Public License.

{"article-title":"Ultrasound comparison of external and internal neck anatomy with the LMA Unique"}

IntroductionInternal neck anatomy landmarks and their relation after placement of an extraglottic airway devices have not been studied extensively by the use...

Ultrasound comparison of external and internal neck anatomy with the LMA Unique

Article Category: research-article

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 229 - 234

Received: Aug 22, 2017

Accepted: Nov 17, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2017.0033

Keywords
airway anatomy, ultrasound, extraglottic device

© 2017 Steven M. Lee et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Public License.

Ultrasound comparison of external and internal neck anatomy with the LMA Unique

Article Category: research-article

Published Online: Dec 29, 2017

Page range: 229 - 234

Received: Aug 22, 2017

Accepted: Nov 17, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2017.0033

Keywordsairway anatomy, ultrasound, extraglottic device

© 2017 Steven M. Lee et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Public License.

Keywords
airway anatomy, ultrasound, extraglottic device