The Evaluation of Upper Airway Assessment Correlated with Laryngoscopic View

Somboonwong W.,M.D.,Boonbunjong J.,M.D.,Akavipat P.,M.D.

Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700

  Three hundred and sixteen patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation were evaluated for correlation between upper airway anatomy and laryngoscopic vi ew. Upper airway evaluation included anatomical defects, modified Mallampati classification, extension degree of neck, thyromental distance and mandibular width. From this study , we found that anatomical defects (loose of teeth,protrusion of incisors,etc) and obesity were strong indicator of poor laryngoscopic view and difficulty in intubation process especially when combined with grade III and IV of modified Mallampati classification ( p = 0.0058). From this study we could not demonstrate the correlation among evaluation process of upper airway in patient without anatomic defects. Further investigations were indicated.