Evaluation of patients' ability to identify the trachea
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of patient's ability to identify the trachea and cricothyroid membrane using palpation. A prospective observational study
IRAS ID
222483
Contact name
Iljaz Hodzovic
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Governance Team, Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 15 days
Research summary
This study aims to identify whether the participants, through pointing, can locate the correct point of their neck which overlies their windpipe. We intend to use the ultrasound scan of the neck to determine how accurate participant's assessment is. It is important to be able to locate the correct position of the windpipe so a tube could be placed through the skin into the windpipe during an emergency when no other way of delivering oxygen to the patient can be used. This prevents serious injury to the patient (including death) due to lack of oxygen and damage to vital structures in the neck. Anaesthetists are only accurate in determining the position of the windpipe using palpation in 30% of cases. Ultrasound scanning is accurate but is too time consuming to be applied in an emergency as it requires time for setting up the equipment. Participants will be required to be older than 18 and have no neck deformity due to previous neck surgery or disease. We are aiming for 300 participants. Participants will be required to point to what they think is the centre of their neck which will be marked with an invisible UV pen, followed by an ultrasound scan to mark the location of their windpipe. Distances between the middle of the windpipe (point closest to the voice box and point closest to the chest bone as determined by the ultrasound) and the point indicated by the participant to be the middle of the windpipe will be recorded. The measurements will be used to evaluate participants ability to identify their windpipe. Photos of the ultrasound image and the impression of the neck markings on the micropore will be kept for research audit purposes.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0786
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion