The optimal position, for much of non-infant airway management is often described colloquially as ‘the sniffing position’ or ‘sniffing the morning air’ [1]. The literature also includes the terms ‘drinking a (full) pint (of beer)’; ‘last orders’; ‘sniff for smoke’; ‘win with the chin’ [2-4]; and we find many use the term ‘first pint position’. These terms are either arcane or arguably trivialising the positioning they intend to describe. It is reported that they may be of limited benefit to those without previous knowledge of correct airway positioning [4, 5] and even to those with such knowledge [6]. It is also plausible that the descriptions may either translate poorly to other languages or be culturally unhelpful.

The airway position each of these terms intends to describe is that of elevating the head from the recumbent position in a supine patient. It has potential benefits in airway management during face mask ventilation, supraglottic airway placement, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. As such, it is important the concept is understood and well communicated.

As the anatomical positioning involves flexion of the lower cervical spine and extension of the upper cervical spine, we introduce the term ‘flextension’ (TC) and have developed an infographic (NC) to support its dissemination (Fig. 1). Flextension can be combined with torso elevation to better describe the ‘ramped’ position for airway management in patients who are obese. We have been using the term for several years now with good anecdotal feedback and local adoption, but it has yet to be described in the academic literature.

It is common to see inexperienced airway managers, who are familiar with the terms ‘sniffing position’ etc., when asked to position the patient before anaesthesia, place a pillow under the shoulders and extend the head on the neck. This leaves the lower cervical spine in the neutral or even extended position, rather than the desired flexed position. We believe widespread adoption of the term flextension will promote better understanding of head and neck positioning for airway management and, more importantly, provide a practical reminder.

对于大多数非婴儿气道管理来说，最佳体位通常通俗地描述为“嗅探体位”或“嗅探早晨的空气”[1]。文献还包括术语“喝一品脱（满）品脱（啤酒）”;'最后的命令';'sniff for smoke';'win with the chin' [2-4];我们发现许多人使用“第一品脱位置”一词。这些术语要么是晦涩难懂的，要么可以说是轻视了他们想要描述的定位。据报道，它们对那些以前没有正确气道定位知识的人 [4， 5] 甚至对那些有这种知识的人 [6] 可能受益有限。这些描述也可能翻译成其他语言很糟糕，或者在文化上没有帮助。

这些术语中的每一个都旨在描述气道位置是仰卧位患者将头部从卧位抬高的气道位置。它在面罩通气、声门上气道放置、喉镜检查和气管插管期间的气道管理中具有潜在益处。因此，理解和良好传达概念非常重要。

由于解剖定位涉及下颈椎的屈曲和上颈椎的伸展，我们引入了术语“flextension”（TC），并开发了一个信息图 （NC） 来支持其传播（图 1）。Flextension 可以与躯干抬高相结合，以更好地描述肥胖患者气道管理的“斜坡”位置。我们已经使用这个术语好几年了，有很好的轶事反馈和本地采用，但还没有在学术文献中描述它。

经常会看到没有经验的气道管理人员，他们熟悉“嗅觉位置”等术语，当被要求在麻醉前为患者定位时，将枕头放在肩膀下，并将头部伸展到脖子上。这会使下颈椎处于中立位置甚至伸展位置，而不是所需的弯曲位置。我们相信 flextension 一词的广泛采用将促进更好地理解气道管理中的头颈部位置，更重要的是，提供实用的提醒。