Difficult Intubation and Anthropometric Measurement

Difficult Intubation

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of various anatomic measurements alone or in combination in predicting difficult intubation. The investigators hypothesized that goniomastoid distance, thyrogonial distance and tongue movements are sensitive and specific tests for predicting difficult intubation MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators included the data of 170 patients (85 difficult intubation and 85 easy intubation) who underwent an abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Patients in difficult intubation (n=85) and easy intubation (n=85) groups were matched by age, BMI, and gender. Intubation difficulty scale (IDS) scores were recorded. Upward and downward maximal protrusions of tongue (UMPT and DMPT, respectively) were evaluated in all patients. Anthropometric measurements were measured.

To define the tongue protrusion tests, anatomic landmarks and horizontal lines were used. The first horizontal line (lower target line) was passing through the midpoint of the distance between stomion to mentum (mandible height) and the second horizontal line (upper target line) was passing through the midpoint of the distance from subnasal to stomion (upper lip height). The horizontal lines were drawn with an erasable marker pen on the each patient's face. In the sitting position, patients were asked to make maximal tongue protrusion upward (UMPT) and downward (DMPT) in anatomical neutral position. The inability of the tip of the tongue to reach to the target line was scored 1 and ability of the tongue tip to reach or pass the target line was scored 2

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