Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34216513›Full record

ArticleClinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.)2021

Performing nasopharyngeal swabs-Guidelines based on an anatomical study.

Paata Pruidze, Plamena Mincheva, Jeremias T Weninger, Lukas F Reissig, Andreas Hainfellner, Wolfgang J Weninger

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 37% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Robotic system for nasopharyngeal swab sampling based on remote center of motion mechanism.International journal of computer assisted radiology and surgery · 2024
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Paata PruidzeDivision of Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-9979
Plamena MinchevaDivision of Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4750-919X
Jeremias T WeningerDivision of Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Lukas F ReissigDivision of Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5833-8176
Andreas HainfellnerDivision of Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6288-2502
Wolfgang J WeningerDivision of Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0575-0073
Medical University of Vienna · AT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal swabs are performed to collect material for diagnosing diseases affecting the respiratory system, such as Covid-19. Yet, no systematic anatomical study defines concrete prerequisites for successfully targeting the nasopharyngeal mucosa. We therefore aim at simulating nasopharyngeal swabs in human body donors to characterize parameters allowing and supporting to enter the nasopharynx with a swab, while avoiding endangering the cribriform plate. With the aid of metal probes and commercial swabs a total of 314 nasopharyngeal swabs in anatomical head/neck specimens stemming from 157 body donors were simulated. Important anatomical parameters were photo-documented and measured. We provide information on angles and distances between prominent anatomical landmarks and particularly important positions the probe occupies during its advancement through the nares to the upper and lower parts of the nasopharynx and cribriform plate. Based on these data we suggest a simple and safe three-step procedure for conducting nasopharyngeal swabs. In addition, we define easily recognizable signals for its correct performance. Evaluations prove that this procedure in all specimens without deformations of the nasal cavity allows the swab to enter the nasopharynx, whereas a widespread used alternative only succeeds in less than 50%. Our data will be the key for the successful collection of nasopharyngeal material for detecting and characterizing pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, which have a high affinity to pharyngeal mucosa. They demonstrate that the danger for damaging the cribriform plate or olfactory mucosa with swabs is unlikely, but potentially higher when performing nasal swabs.

Indexed as

COVID-19 TestingAgedAged, 80 and overCadaverCOVID-19FemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNasopharynxPractice Guidelines as TopicSARS-CoV-2Specimen HandlinganatomyCovid-19nasopharynxrespiratorySARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID34216513
PMCPMC8426742
OpenAlexW3180987294

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.