Study Assessing the Position of Cricothyroid Membrane in Relation to Movement of Neck From Neutral to Extended Position

Ability to provide oxygen to patients undergoing general anaesthesia is crucial. This is traditionally provided using face mask, supraglottic airway (breathing tube above voice box) or endotracheal tube (breathing tube in wind pipe). However in some patients it may be impossible to provide oxygen through any of these above means which can be life threatening and lead to permanent brain damage/death. One of the ideal ways of managing this emergency situation is to pass a breathing tube through a membrane in the front of the neck called cricothyroid membrane with the neck in extension position where permitted. Many studies have recommended identifying the cricothyroid membrane before general anaesthesia in high risk patients but with their head in neutral position. This study will be a pilot study to check if the cricothyroid membrane remains in the same place in neutral and extended positions.

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Key information

Conditions

Difficult Intubation

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Northampton, NN1 5BD, United Kingdom

About this study

This is a non-randomised observational pilot study. The results of the study will be used to determine the size of the sample required for a planned randomised controlled trial in the future. All the volunteers will be asked to lie on a trolley with the head in neutral position- Defined as alignment of external auditory meatus (outer ear canal) to the sternal angle (prominent portion of breast bone) is horizontal. A radiologist trained in ultrasound of the neck will identify the position of upper and lower border of the cricothyroid membrane using ultrasound and then mark these borders and the centre point with a black surgical marker pen. Then the volunteer will be asked to extend the neck and the same steps will be repeated using a red surgical marker pen. The distance between the two centre points will then be measured using a calliper/ measuring scale.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
Aged 18 years or above.

Exclusion criteria

Age <18 years
Inability to communicate or refuses consent
History of problems with neck movement
Arthritis of the neck
Upper limb neurology

Treatment and study plan

Ultrasound

Procedure

ultrasound of the neck to identify the position of upper and lower border of the cricothyroid membrane.

Primary outcomes

Ultrasound measurement

Time frame: 20 minutes

The distance between the two centre points of the cricothyroid membrane when the head is kept in the neutral and extension position which is measured using the calliper or measuring device.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Other

Registry information

Official study title

An Observational Study Assessing the Position of Cricothyroid Membrane in Relation to Movement of Neck From Neutral to Extended Position

Acronym: ULOC

Important dates

Study start: 2017
Primary completion: 2017
Study completion: 2017
First posted: Jun 6, 2017
Registry last updated: Jan 18, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed