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Ultrasonographic Parameters in Prediction of Difficult Laryngoscopy in Non-suspected Difficult Airway Patients

Use of Ultrasonographic Parameters in Preoperative Prediction of Difficult Laryngoscopy in Non-suspected Difficult Airway Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery; a Prospective Observational Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06052189
Enrollment
85
Registered
2023-09-25
Start date
2022-05-01
Completion date
2023-05-01
Last updated
2023-09-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Difficult Laryngoscopy, Prediction, Ultrasound

Brief summary

This study aims to evaluate the ultrasonographic parameters (distance from skin to epiglottis (DSE) and distance from skin to vocal cords (DSVC)) as preoperative predictors of difficult laryngoscopy in non-suspected difficult airway patients undergoing elective surgery.

Detailed description

Airway management is an integral part of general anesthesia. It simply aims to secure the patient's airway and achieve adequate ventilation and oxygenation for the patient undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. Unsuccessful airway management due to the unexpected difficulty in laryngoscopy is a life-threatening situation and may lead to morbidity and mortality. Many conventional clinical tests are used in preoperative airway assessment such as modified Mallampati classification, Thyro-mental distance, inter-incisor distance, cervical mobility, and neck circumference, which are used to predict difficulty in the airway, but they have limited value and low sensitivity and specificity. Difficult laryngoscopy cannot be always predicted based on the preoperative assessment by conventional clinical tests. Some patients are thought to have an easy airway by clinical tests, but they show an unexpected difficulty in the laryngoscopy. The laryngeal view of the patient can be assessed and graded during direct laryngoscopy using the Cormack and Lehane grading scale and its modification that describes the laryngoscopy as easy or difficult. Ultrasonography is a valuable promising tool for preoperative airway evaluation through identifying important sonoanatomy of the upper airway such as epiglottis, thyroid cartilage, and vocal cords.

Interventions

PROCEDUREUltrasound

Ultrasonographic parameters: in the parasagittal plane (1cm from midline) with the patient lying supine, without a pillow, head, and neck in the neutral position, looking straight ahead with mouth closed and the tongue on the floor of the mouth without any movement.

Sponsors

Tanta University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Aged 18 - 65 years. * Both sexes. * Patients who aren't suspected to have a difficult airway after preoperative airway assessment by conventional clinical tests such as modified Mallampati classification (MMC), thyromental distance (TMD), inter-incisor distance (IID), cervical mobility (CM), And neck circumference (NC). * American society of anesthesia (ASA) I, II, and III physical status. * Scheduled for elective surgery under general anaethesia.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with maxillofacial injury and airway trauma. * Patients with a history of previous difficult intubation. * Patients with anatomical abnormalities. * Neck scarring, swelling, or burn. * Pregnancy. * Obesity.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Correlation between the ultrasonographic parameters and the modified Cormack and Lehane grading scale10 minutes during intubation.Correlation between the ultrasonographic parameters (distance from skin to epiglottis ( DSE) and distance from skin to vocal cords (DSVC)) and the modified Cormack and Lehane grading scale of laryngoscopy as easy or difficult

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Sensitivity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to epiglottis to predict difficult laryngoscopy.10 minutes during intubation.Measurement of Sensitivity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to epiglottis to predict difficult laryngoscopy. Laryngeal view grading according to the modified Cormack and Lehane grading scale where grades 1 and 2a are considered easy laryngoscopy and grades 2b, 3, and 4 are considered difficult laryngoscopy.
Sensitivity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to vocal cords to easy laryngoscopy.10 minutes during intubation.Measurement of Sensitivity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to epiglottis to predict easy laryngoscopy. Laryngeal view grading according to the modified Cormack and Lehane grading scale where grades 1 and 2a are considered easy laryngoscopy and grades 2b, 3, and 4 are considered difficult laryngoscopy.
Specificity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to epiglottis to predict difficult laryngoscopy.10 minutes during intubation.Measurement of Specificity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to epiglottis to predict difficult laryngoscopy. Laryngeal view grading according to the modified Cormack and Lehane grading scale where grades 1 and 2a are considered easy laryngoscopy and grades 2b, 3, and 4 are considered difficult laryngoscopy.
Specificity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to vocal cords to easy laryngoscopy.10 minutes during intubation.Measurement of Specificity of ultrasonographic distance from skin to epiglottis to predict easy laryngoscopy. Laryngeal view grading according to the modified Cormack and Lehane grading scale where grades 1 and 2a are considered easy laryngoscopy and grades 2b, 3, and 4 are considered difficult laryngoscopy.

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026