• S H Kim, D H Kim, H Kang, J J Park, S H Seong, E H Suk, and J H Hwang.
• Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Br J Anaesth. 2012 Nov 1; 109 (5): 816-20.

BackgroundEstimation of the nares-to-epiglottis and nares-to-vocal cords distances would facilitate the selection of properly sized nasopharyngeal airways and appropriate positioning of a fibreoptic bronchoscope in young children. The purposes of this study were to measure the nares-to-epiglottis and nares-to-vocal cords distances and to create an algorithm to predict these distances based on anatomical landmarks and paediatric characteristic data.MethodsTwo hundred and eleven children, aged 1-10 yr, undergoing elective surgery were investigated. After induction of general anaesthesia, the distances from the nares to the epiglottis/vocal cords were measured using a nasogastric tube. After intubation, the distances from the lateral border of the nose to the ipsilateral mandible angle (nares-to-mandible distance) and the tragus of the ear (nares-to-tragus distance) were measured using a tape measure.ResultsThe nares-to-epiglottis and nares-to-vocal cords distances were significantly correlated with the age, weight, height, and external measurements (P<0.001). By stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, formulas were obtained for the nares-to-epiglottis distance (cm)=2.606+0.058×height (cm)+0.231×the nares-to-mandible distance (cm)-0.304 (gender) (r(2)=0.754) and for the nares-to-vocal cords distance (cm)=4.947+0.06×height (cm)+0.228×nares-to-mandible distance (cm)-0.283 (gender) (r(2)=0.803).ConclusionsThe nares-to-epiglottis and nares-to-vocal cords distances can be predicted using the height and the nares-to-mandible distance in young children.Clinical Trial Registration NumberClinical Research Information Service KCT0000150.

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