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Comparison between laryngeal handshake and palpation techniques in the identification of cricothyroid membrane: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

Because the use of conventional digital palpation technique for the identification of cricothyroid membrane (CTM) has been widely believed to be unreliable, the ‘laryngeal handshake’ technique (LH) has been introduced for CTM identification in the event of cricothyroidotomy. To provide evidence for clinical practice, this pilot meta-analysis aimed at investigating whether identification of CTM with the LH is superior to that with the palpation technique. Studies that evaluated the accuracy of CTM identification by using LH or palpation techniques (i.e., LH group vs. Palpation group) were identified from electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Medline, google scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to July 5, 2020. The primary outcome was the accuracy of both techniques. Four studies published from 2018 to 2020 were considered relevant and were read in full. We found no significant difference in success rate of CTM identification [Risk Ratio (RR) 1.09, 95% CI 0.89–1.34, p = 0.41] between the two groups. These preliminary results of the current study demonstrated no significant differences in success rate between the laryngeal handshake and conventional palpation techniques in cricothyroid membrane identification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan

    Kuo-Chuan Hung & Yao-Tsung Lin

  2. Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan

    Kuo-Chuan Hung

  3. Center of General Education, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan

    Yao-Tsung Lin

  4. Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, No. 1, Yida Road, Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung, 82445, Taiwan

    Cheuk-Kwan Sun

  5. College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Cheuk-Kwan Sun

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  1. Kuo-Chuan Hung
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  2. Yao-Tsung Lin
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Correspondence to Cheuk-Kwan Sun.

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Hung, KC., Lin, YT. & Sun, CK. Comparison between laryngeal handshake and palpation techniques in the identification of cricothyroid membrane: a meta-analysis. J Clin Monit Comput 35, 1235–1238 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-021-00649-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-021-00649-5

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