Korean J Anesthesiol.  1997 Jan;32(1):57-61. 10.4097/kjae.1997.32.1.57.

Anatomical Measurement of The Upper Airway Dimensions with Computed Tomography

• Kang SH
• Back KC
• Kim SH
• Kim YD

• KMID: 2091042
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1997.32.1.57

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is clinically important to know the distance of upper airway for airway management and respiratory care. The knowledge is useful for avoiding many possible complications due to endotracheal intubation by appropriate choice of endotracheal tube depth.
METHODS
We investigated the distance from nose to carina according to the patient,s age, weight, height, sex with computed Tomography in 100 adults who had no anatomical abnormality of the upper airway, neck and head. RESULT: The length between upper incisor and vocal cord was 15.0+/-0.8 cm in male and 13.9+/-0.6 cm in female. The length between vocal cord and carina was 13.2+/-0.8 cm in male and 11.9+/-0.9 cm in female. The length between upper incisor and carina was 28.3 0.9 cm in male and 25.9+/-1.2 cm in female. The length between nose and vocal cord was 17.7+/-0.9 cm in male and 15.9+/-0.8 cm in female. The length between nose and carina was 30.9+/-1.2 cm in male and 27.9+/-1.3 cm in female. The distance of upper airway increased according to patient, s (n=100) height, weight and age(p<0.05). The distance of upper airway not increased according to female patient, s (n=36) age(p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The length between vocal cord and carina, nose and carina, incisor and carina increased according to patient, s (n=100) height, weight and age.

Keyword

Anatomy upper airway; Equipment Computed Tomography

MeSH Terms

Adult
Airway Management
Female
Head
Humans
Incisor
Intubation, Intratracheal
Male
Neck
Nose
Vocal Cords