Is obesity a risk factor for difficult intubation?

Conclusion. Obesity was associated with an increased risk of difficult intubation, difficult laryngoscopy and Mallampati score ≥ 3 in adults patients undergoing general surgical procedures.

What are the causes of difficult mask ventilation?

Patient-specific factors can be the main cause for difficult mask ventilation; these are wide-ranging and can be categorised as shown in Figure 2. Other important factors include obesity, increasing age, male gender, Mallampati grading, ability for mandibular protrusion and history of obstructive sleep apnoea.

What is the single biggest predictor of problematic intubation in morbidly obese patients?

High Mallampati score and large neck circumference have probably been the best single risk factor for difficult intubation in the obese.,[5,7,8] Ezri et al.

How do you measure Sternomental distance?

During the course of the airway assessment, sternomental distance was measured as the straight distance between the upper border of the manubrium sterni and the bony point of the mentum with the head in full extension and the mouth closed.

How is Thyromental distance measured?

Thyromental Distance: The Basics If the patient is unconscious or uncooperative, try lifting their chin as far back as it will go without resistance or pain. Then measure from the tip of the jaw to the thyroid notch. The distance should be 7 centimeters or more—or approximately three finger widths.

How do you predict difficult intubation?

The greater the number of positive findings, the more likely intubation by direct laryngoscopy will be difficult. The highest positive predictive value comes from a history of difficulty with intubation, or findings of a short thyromental distance or decreased range of motion of the neck.

How do you predict a difficult airway?

The distance from the thyroid notch to the mentum (thyromental distance), the distance from the upper border of the manubrium sterni to the mentum (sternomental distance), and a simple summation of risk factors (Wilson risk sum score) are widely recognized as tools for predicting difficult intubation.

Which of the following Thyromental distances suggests possible difficult mask or intubation?

A thyromental distance that is less than or equal to 3 cm or less than 3 fingerbreaths is a predictor of a difficult intubation.

What is a good thyromental distance?

The thyromental distance—the distance from the anterior larynx (neck) to the mandible (chin)—is a predictor of difficult intubation. Generally, a thyromental distance of greater than or equal to 3 cm or the width of 3 fingerbreaths is acceptable.