Airway ultrasound
LUNG/CHEST
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19m
Airway ultrasound is a valuable, non-invasive, simple, and portable diagnostic tool point. Ultrasound enables us to identify important sonoanatomy of the upper airway such as thyroid cartilage, epiglottis, cricoid cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, tracheal cartilages, and esophagus. Understanding this applied sonoanatomy facilitates clinicians to use ultrasound in assessment of airway anatomy for endotracheal and esophageal intubation, difficult intubation, endotracheal tube position and depth, assessment of airway size, ultrasound-guided invasive procedures such as percutaneous needle cricothyroidotomy and tracheostomy, prediction of post-extubation stridor and detecting upper airway pathologies. Better technological advancements, portability, and availability of ultrasound in most critical settings will make airway ultrasound to become the potential first-line non-invasive airway assessment tool in the future.
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