Time to stop sniffing the air: snapshot survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the phrase "sniffing the morning air" is useful in positioning patients for tracheal intubation.


METHODS
Snapshot survey.


METHODS
Teaching hospital.


METHODS
21 anaesthetists.


METHODS
Angles of neck, line of sight, and hip to shoulder, as measured on a photograph.


RESULTS
Angles ranged widely, especially line of sight: 7 degrees -37 degrees with horizontal.


CONCLUSIONS
As patients are positioned supine, rather than standing, the phrase is unhelpful; an explicit description of head position would be better.
Johnson
Chris
C
Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB.
Goodman
Neville W
NW
D000776:Anesthesiology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture; D011364:Professional Practice; D016683:Supine Position