Determination of the Cricothyroid Membrane Height by Age and Sex and Optimal Tracheal Tube Size.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to determine the average cricothyroid membrane (CTM) height in healthy volunteers, and the secondary aim was to determine the hypothetical success rate for emergency cricothyrotomy with a tracheal tube with an 8.0 mm outer diameter. METHODS: This study included healthy volunteers aged 18 years and older. The participants' clinical characteristics were recorded, and their CTM height was measured using ultrasound, with their necks placed sequentially in the neutral and extension positions. The relationship between the CTM height and sex, age, height, weight, body mass index, and sternomental distance was evaluated using linear regression analysis. An equation that could estimate the height of the CTM was obtained with the parameters found significant in this analysis. RESULTS: Of the 340 participants, 208 (61.2%) were male. The mean (SD) height of the CTM in the extension position was 9.60 (1.54) mm, and it was significantly shorter in the women than in the men (8.72 [1.19] mm vs. 10.16 [1.48] mm, p < 0.001). Among the participants of short stature, the CTM was significantly shorter, regardless of sex. The hypothetical success rate for emergency cricothyrotomy was 93.3% for the males and 73.5% for the females. The equation for estimating the height of the CTM in the extension position was determined as -4.36 + 5.27 × height (m) + 0.32 × sternomental distance (cm). CONCLUSIONS: Since the CTM height may differ according to age, sex, and height, cricothyrotomy sets should be available in various outer diameters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 134:1825-1830, 2024.

The Effect of Beta-Trace Protein on Diagnosis and Prognosis in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of beta-trace protein (BTP) levels at the time of admission and at 8th hour on diagnosis and prognosis in patients who were under treatment and follow-up with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnosis at coronary intensive care unit and emergency department. Materials and Methods This study was conducted between June 2014 and December 2014 at the Emergency Department of Konya Training and Research Hospital. Demographic characteristics, background, vital findings, laboratory findings, blood BTP levels, coronary angiography results, and echocardiography findings of the patients diagnosed with ACS were recorded. Risk classification was performed for patients with ACS and their mortality rates were recorded. Relation of BTP level with risk classification and mortality was evaluated. Results A total of 174 individuals, 138 patients and 36 control subjects, were included in the study. No significant difference was detected between BTP levels at the time of admission and at 8th hour in the patient group (p=0.883). There was no difference between the patient and control groups in terms of the BTP level (p=0.335). Ten patients (7.2%) died in the patient group. BTP levels measured at the time of admission and at 8th hour were not different for dead and living patients (admission p=0.085, 8th hour p=0.141). Conclusion We determined that there was a lack of biochemical markers that could be used for the prognosis of serum BTP levels in patients admitting to the emergency unit with ACS.