%0 Journal Article
%T Measurement of the lengths of different sections of the upper airway and their predictive factors.
%A Alqaryan S
%A Alrabiah A
%A Alhussinan K
%A Alyousef M
%A Alosamey F
%A Aljathlany Y
%A Aljasser A
%A Bukhari M
%A Almohizea M
%A Khan A
%A Alqahtani K
%A Alammar A
%J Surg Radiol Anat
%V 46
%N 7
%D 2024 Jul 12
%M 38735016
%F 1.354
%R 10.1007/s00276-024-03345-6
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>No studies have been conducted to define the lengths of the upper airway's different segments in normal healthy adults.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study aimed to determine the length of the subglottis and extrathoracic trachea and the factors affecting it.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>This was an observational retrospective review study. Included 102 adult patients who underwent CT scan during the quiet inspiration phase of the upper airway.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The results revealed significant positive linear relationships between height and both anterior and posterior subglottic measurements (p < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant, moderately strong negative correlation between age and extrathoracic tracheal measurements (p > 0.001) was observed. Men exhibited longer anterior (p < 0.001) and posterior (p > 0.001) subglottic measurements. In both sexes, the average length of the anterior subglottis was 14.16 (standard deviation [SD]: 2.72) mm, posterior subglottis was 14.51 (SD: 2.85) mm and extrathoracic trachea was 66.37 (SD: 13.71) mm.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>We concluded that a normal healthy adult's anterior subglottis length is 6.3-19.3 mm (mean: 14.16 [SD: 2.72] mm), posterior subglottis length is 6.1-20.0 mm (mean: 14.51 [SD: 2.85] mm) and extrathoracic trachea length is 25.2-98.5 mm (mean: 66.37 [SD: 13.71] mm). Age, height and sex affected the upper airway length.