Abstract
Objective: This prospective observational study aims to measure the
epiglottic thickness by ultrasonography (US) in healthy volunteers.
Methods: Healthy adult volunteers were recruited from the National
Taiwan University Hospital between October and November 2019. Exclusion
criteria included preexisting airway diseases, neck tumors, and a
history of neck operation. Epiglottic thickness was measured at the
midpoint, right and left edges of the epiglottis. Age, sex, height,
weight, and body mass index (BMI) were collected. The linear regression
model was employed to identify parameters to be associated with the
epiglottic thickness. Coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)
were computed. The literature was also reviewed. Results: There were 124
Chinese adults and 63 were men. The average age was 32.5±10.4 years. The
midpoint, right edge and left edge of the epiglottic thickness was
2.03±0.42 mm, 2.14±0.42 mm and 2.21±0.42 mm, respectively. Male gender
(midpoint, coefficient, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.35-0.43; right edge,
coefficient, 0.33, 95% CI, 0.31-0.35; left edge, coefficient, 0.31,
95% CI, 0.29-0.35) and BMI (midpoint, coefficient, 0.02, 95% CI,
0.019-0.021; right edge, coefficient, 0.02, 95% CI, 0.019-0.022; left
edge, coefficient, 0.02, 95% CI, 0.018-0.022) were associated with the
epiglottic thickness. The epiglottis was thinner in normal Chinese
adults, compared with that in Americans in the literature. Conclusions:
US allows the depiction and assessment of the epiglottis in healthy
volunteers. Male gender and higher BMI are associated with a thicker
epiglottis. Future studies are warranted to evaluate race differences in
the dimension of the epiglottic thickness.