PURPOSE To determine the frequency and degree of lateral displacement of the esophagus relative to the cricoid cartilage ("cricoid") using computed tomography (CT) images of normal necks. METHODS Fifty-one cervical CT scans of clinically normal patients were reviewed retrospectively. Esophageal diameter, distance between the midline of the cricoid and the midline of the esophagus, and distanc...

Sir,—The article by Nolan and Parr1 depicted in-line cervical stabilization and cricoid pressure during tracheal intubation in the trauma patient (fig. 2). In figure 2, in-line cervical stabilization is demonstrated as if it were a single-handed technique. It is accepted practice, however, to perform this manoeuvre as a double-handed technique (although we are sure this is the effect of the lin...

BACKGROUND Cricoid pressure (CP) is often used during general anesthesia induction to prevent passive regurgitation of gastric contents. The authors used magnetic resonance imaging to determine the anatomic relationship between the esophagus and the cricoid cartilage ("cricoid") with and without CP. METHODS Magnetic resonance images of the necks of 22 healthy volunteers were reviewed with and...

The association of iron deficiency anaemia, postcricoid webs and carcinoma is controversial. The main findings in a recent study which re-examined this problem are presented here. It was shown that the majority of patients with a post-cricoid web have evidence of iron deficiency but that only about 10°O of patients with iron deficiency develop post-cricoid webs. Factors which might be important...

BACKGROUND The benefit of cricoid pressure during tracheal intubation is still debated and, due to its potential negative impact on laryngeal views, its routine use is questioned. The goal of this study was to estimate its impact on laryngeal view. METHODS All patients intubated in the prehospital setting were included. Three different propensity score (PS) models were used and compared in te...

BACKGROUND A quantitative understanding of airway sizes and proportions and a reference point for comparisons are important to a pediatric bronchoscopist. The aims of this study were to measure large airway areas, and define proportions and factors that influence airway size in children. METHODS A validated videobronchoscope technique was used to measure in-vivo airway cross-sectional areas (...

BACKGROUND Recent studies have challenged the historically accepted fact that the larynx is cone-shaped in infants and children. The present study used computed tomography (CT)-based measurements to evaluate airway dimensions. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the dimensional transition between the subglottic area and the cricoid ring in children. METHODS This is a retrospect...

The association of iron deficiency anaemia, postcricoid webs and carcinoma is controversial. The main findings in a recent study which re-examined this problem are presented here. It was shown that the majority of patients with a post-cricoid web have evidence of iron deficiency but that only about 10°O of patients with iron deficiency develop post-cricoid webs. Factors which might be important...

BACKGROUND Stellate ganglion block is usually performed at the transverse process of C6, because the vertebral artery is located anterior to the transverse process of C7. The purpose of this study is to estimate the location of the transverse process of C6 using the cricoid cartilage in the performance of stellate ganglion block. METHODS We reviewed cervical lateral neutral-flexion-extension ...

The association of iron deficiency anaemia, postcricoid webs and carcinoma is controversial. The main findings in a recent study which re-examined this problem are presented here. It was shown that the majority of patients with a post-cricoid web have evidence of iron deficiency but that only about 10°O of patients with iron deficiency develop post-cricoid webs. Factors which might be important...