Mechanics and dynamics of the pharynx: An insight into pharyngeal collapse

Maintaining airway patency during anaesthesia is the primary responsibility of the anaesthesiologist. Apart from anaesthetic agents, there are many factors which influence the pharyngeal patency. Understanding the pharyngeal collapsibility and behaviour of the upper airway during sleep would help in increasing the safety of patients under anaesthesia. The mechanism of pharyngeal collapse, the role of pharyngeal dilators, negative intra-thoracic pressure and multiple other factors involved to maintain pharyngeal patency are described in the article. Clinical and radiological tools to predict upper airway collapsibility have also been explained with supportive evidence. This article should be considered a resource for concepts of pharyngeal dynamics and mechanics to improve airway patency and to predict pharyngeal collapsibility and thereby safety during anaesthesia.