METHODS: CT scans of the neck of two hundred patients were analysed by two groups of raters. For thyrohyoid approach, mean distance from the superior border of the thyroid cartilage to the laryngeal cavity (THd) and mean angle from the superior border of the thyroid cartilage to mid-true cords (THa) were measured. For transthyroid approach, mean distance from mid-thyroid cartilage to mid-true cords (TTd) and Hounsfield unit (HU) at mid-thyroid cartilage (TTc) were measured. For cricothyroid approach, mean distance from the inferior border of the thyroid cartilage to the laryngeal cavity (CTd) and mean angle from the inferior border of the thyroid cartilage to mid-true cords (CTa) were measured.
RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between males and females for all measurements except for CTa (p 0.05). There was a significant fair positive correlation between age and TTc (p = 0.0002). For all measurements obtained, there were moderate to excellent inter-group consistency and intra-rater reliability.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a significant sex dimorphism that may influence the three TIL approaches except for needle angulation in the cricothyroid approach. The knowledge of laryngeal dimension is important to increase success in TIL procedure.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 725 postpartum mothers, aged 18 and above, attending a primary-care clinic. The systematic sampling method was used to recruit patients through a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the predictors of CAM use among postpartum mothers.
RESULTS: The prevalence of CAM use among postpartum mothers was 85.5%. Manipulative body therapies, including massage, reflexology, hot stone compression and body wrapping were the most widely used methods of CAM (84.1%) among postpartum mothers, followed by biological-based therapies (33.1%). More than half of the respondents (52.1%) opted to use CAM, as they had observed good results from other CAM users. However, our study showed that 57.1% of mothers who consumed herbal medicine reported neonatal jaundice in their newborn. The median of the expenditure on CAM usage was 250 Malaysian Ringgits, or USD 61.3 per month. According to multiple logistic regression analyses, being Muslim (OR = 5.258, 95% CI: 2.952-9.368), being Malay (OR = 4.414, 95% CI: 1.18-16.56), having a higher educational level (OR = 2.561, 95% CI: 1.587-4.133) and having delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery (OR: 5.660, 95% CI: 3.454-9.276) had a significantly positive association with CAM use among postpartum mothers.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CAM use was high (8 out of 10) among postpartum mothers. Postpartum mothers who are Malay, Muslim, have a higher educational level and who have had spontaneous vaginal delivery tended to use CAM more. Manipulative body therapies, including massage, reflexology, hot stone compression and body wrapping, were the most widely used forms of CAM, followed by biological-based therapies. More than half of the mothers who consumed herbal medicine reported neonatal jaundice in their newborn. Thus, education to increase awareness regarding the consumption of herbs is urgently required in this country.