NCT05974540

USG vs Palpation for Cricothyroid Membrane Determination

Ultrasound Versus Physical Examination for Cricothyroid Membrane Determination in Pediatric Patients

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 100 (actual)
• Sponsor: Marmara University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 1 Year – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Emergency cricothyroidotomy is a very important technique to ensure airway safety in acute situations. Problem in identifying the cricothyroid membrane is a major contributor to high failure, as the most common complication during cricothyrotomy is the misplacement of the cannula. The success rate of emergency airway access performed by anesthesiologists and emergency medicine specialists was found to be low due to the low frequency of the procedure. The aim in this study is to compare the palpation method with the ultrasonugraphy (USG)-based method in determining the cricothyroid membrane. The hypothesis is that USG is more successful than palpation in identifying the cricothyroid membrane. In addition, the relationship between difficult intubation and measurements such as the cricothyroid membrane length, the cricoid cartilage and the skin distance, the distance between the cricoid cartilage and the second tracheal ring will be evaluated.

Conditions

• Ultrasound
• Cricothyroid Membrane

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Determination of cricothyroid membrane	After the patient's head is extended, the pediatric surgeon will be asked to mark the cricothyroid membrane with a pencil using traditional inspection and palpation methods. Then, the cricothyroid membrane will be determined by the Anesthesiology and Reanimation specialist by USG method and the difference will be determined. Demographic and morphometric characteristics of the patients will be recorded. In addition, the length of the cricothyroid membrane, the distance between the cricoid cartilage and the skin, the distance between the cricoid cartilage and the 2nd tracheal ring will be measured by USG. Mallampati classes of patients with intubation, Cormack-Lehane (CL) glottic appearance grades, Likert scale with intubation difficulties (1: very easy, 2: easy, 3: medium, 4: difficult) will also be recorded.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-07-01
• Primary completion: 2025-05-15
• Completion: 2025-05-15
• First posted: 2023-08-03
• Last updated: 2025-06-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)