Abstract

Aim: To determine, using ultrasound, where the tongue is located during the process of inducing anaesthesia. Material and methods: Comparing the movement of the tongue within the same participant while anaesthesia was being induced was the focus of this observer-blind investigation. Consent to receive general anaesthesia for minor gynaecological procedures was given by 50 female patients with ASA physical status I or II who were going to undergo general anaesthesia for the procedures. As a premedication, temazepam at the dose of 20 mg was taken orally by each patient. A single cushion was used to support the patient's head while she rested on the trolley prior to the induction of anaesthesia. Results: In 20 (40%) of the patients, it was not possible to determine whether the apnea was due to a central cause or an obstruction in the airway, whereas sufficient data were obtained in 50 cases (table 1). The ultrasound pictures of the other patients did not demonstrate an appropriate degree of sectoring of the tongue. Because of the acoustic shadow that was formed by the hyoid bone, it was often more difficult to image the back portion of the tongue than the front portion. 37 of the 50 patients whose data are given had an angle of sector analysis that was more than 56 degrees (the mean angle of sector analysis for all 50 patients was 590±20 ). Among patients who were awake, there was no movement of the tongue in connection to the breathing process. The patient was seen to have only very little movement when the anaesthesia was being administered. The most significant shift, which was 9 millimetres caudad, took place at the front of the tongue. Conclusion: The observed motions did not provide any evidence to support the hypothesis that the tongue is a significant factor in the blockage of the airway during the induction of anaesthesia

Description

.