OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the phrase "sniffing the morning air" is useful in positioning patients for tracheal intubation. DESIGN: Snapshot survey. SETTING: Teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 21 anaesthetists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the phrase "sniffing the morning air" is useful in positioning patients for tracheal intubation. DESIGN: Snapshot survey. SETTING: Teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 21 anaesthetists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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.