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.