Pregnancy is associated with a decrease in pharyngeal but not tracheal or laryngeal cross-sectional area: a pilot study using the acoustic reflection method.
Int J Obstet Anesth
; 23(1): 35-9, 2014 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24333051
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The risk of difficult upper airway access is increased during pregnancy, especially in labor. Changes in upper airway calibre have been poorly studied during pregnancy. The acoustic reflection method is a non-invasive technique that allows a longitudinal assessment of the cross-sectional area of the upper airway from the mouth to carina. We used this technique to evaluate upper airway calibre during normal pregnancy.METHODS:
We conducted a prospective, single centre, observational study with a clinical and upper airway acoustic reflection method evaluation of healthy women during the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and up to two days and one month after delivery.RESULTS:
Fifty women participated to the study. The mean pharyngeal cross-sectional area decreased between the first and third trimesters (P < 0.001) with no significant change of the minimal and mean tracheal cross-sectional areas. The Mallampati score increased during pregnancy between the first and third trimesters (P< 0.001).CONCLUSION:
Using measurements with the acoustic reflection method, normal pregnancy is associated with a significant reduction in the cross-sectional area of the pharynx and a concomitant increase in the Mallampati score. No change was observed in the minimal and mean tracheal cross-sectional areas.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pharynx
/
Trachea
/
Acoustics
/
Body Weights and Measures
/
Larynx
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Obstet Anesth
Journal subject:
ANESTESIOLOGIA
/
OBSTETRICIA
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article