Introduction
Anatomical knowledge and precise nasopharyngeal (NP) depth determination are crucial in the safety and accuracy of several medical procedures including but not limited to nasopharyngeal swabs, nasogastric tube placement, and nasopharyngeal temperature probe positioning.1,2,3
Suboptimal NP depth prediction can impact nasopharyngeal (NP) swab accuracy, which is the gold standard for diagnostic testing of respiratory pathogens, including Bordetella pertussis, Neisseria meningitidis, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2.6,7 Conversely, swab over-insertion can increase the risk of bleeding, discomfort and complications in the procedure.8,9 NP temperature probe considered standard for perioperative temperature monitoring in patients receiving anesthesia requires target insertion depth for precise placement in the upper or mid-nasopharynx,10 since improper positioning may result in inaccurate core temperature reporting.11
Although previously reported in the literature, the average adult NP depth remains inconsistent amongst studies, without correlation of clinical predictors.1,10 This multi-site cross-sectional study was performed to acquire NP depth normative data in adults and assess for predictors of this anatomical distance.