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6: Is the sniffing position optimal for viewing the glottic opening?

Depth of Anesthesia

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The Sniffing Position by MRI

Eight normal adult humans were given an MRI of their airways under three conditions. The first position is full head extension with no blankets or pillows beneath the head. The next position is neutral where the head is flat on the surface but not extended. And the third position is the classic sniffing position, which has a seven centimeter cushion under the head. No matter how the volunteers' heads and necks were positioned, there was no way to bend the head and neck so that you could see the larynx.

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