Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2007 Nov;50(11):1030-1033.

Continuous Measurement of Suspension Force during Suspension Laryngoscopy: Preliminary Report

• Kong IG
• Choi JM
• Moon SJ
• Cha W
• Lee MC
• Jung EJ
• Sung MW
• Kim KH
• Kwon TK

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although suspension laryngoscopy is a very common procedure in the otolaryngoloical field and suspension force (Fs) is suspected to be related with the complications or laryngeal exposure, Fs has not been objectively measured yet. The objective of this study is to measure suspension force continuously during suspension laryngoscopy.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
Sixteen patients who had undergone laryngoscopic surgery were evaluated. The value measured with a load cell during the procedure was converted to Fs with calculation. The maximum force (Fsmax) and the mean force (Fsmean) were evaluated. The angle between the laryngoscope and the chest holder(angle alpha), and the angle between the chest holder and the horizontal plane (angle beta) were gauged.
RESULTS
The mean values of Fsmax and Fsmean were 14.2 and 25.5 kgf, respectively. The mean values of angle alpha and angle beta were 124.0+/-4.3 degrees, and 19.0+/-2.6 degrees, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The continuous measurement of the suspension force was executed successfully and quantitatively with a simple method.

Keyword

Suspension laryngoscopy; Laryngoscopic surgery; Measurement; Force

MeSH Terms

Humans
Laryngoscopes
Laryngoscopy*
Methods
Thorax