Proper Tracheostomy Tube Bending Angle and Flange-to- Angle Length

Kes Srisawangwong¹, Worawat Rawangban¹, Napadon Tangjaturonrasme¹

Affiliation : ¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand Background: In tracheostomies, the use of tubes with appropriate bending angles and flange-to-angle lengths (FtLs) is essential to avoid complications.

Objective: To assessed computed tomography (CT) scans of the normal anatomy of individuals to determine the appropriate bending angles and FtLs.
Materials and Methods: Three-hundred thirty-eight patients underwent CT between January 2012 and July 2018, and their neck anatomy, include larynx and trachea, could be clearly visualized. The bending angle and FtL were measured using the standard measuring tools. Data were analyzed. A p-value of less than 0.05 indicated significant differences.
Results: The median age was 53 years. The median body mass index was 21.16 kg/m² in men and 22.04 kg/m² in women. The median bending angle was 102° in both genders, and the difference between genders was not significant. The median FtL was 19.93 mm in males and 21.68 mm in females, and the difference between genders was significant (U=10,461, z=–3.58, p<0.001). The bending angle and FtL showed a statistically significant medium positive correlation.
Conclusion: Females had significant deeper tracheal area than males at 21.68 mm versus 19.93 mm. There was a positive correlation between the bending angle and the FtL. The median bending angle was 102° in both genders.

Received 2 August 2021 | Revised 28 February 2022 | Accepted 8 March 2022
DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2022.04.13292

Keywords : Tracheostomy; Trachea; Intubation; Tracheostomy tube

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