Indirect Laryngoscopy and Ultrasonography in Prediction of Difficult Airway

The Role of Indirect Laryngoscopy, Clinical and Ultrasonographic Assessment in Prediction of Difficult Airway

This study was designed to assess the success of indirect laryngoscopy and ultrasonographic measurements in the prediction of difficult airway. All patients were examined by indirect laryngoscopy and ultrasonography preoperatively and the predictive values for difficult airway of these methods were compared.

Difficult airway is a condition that increases the patient's vital risk and leaves the anesthesia and surgical team in a difficult position. Failure to perform an adequate preoperative evaluation may result in the team being unprepared. Therefore, various methods have been investigated in the prediction of difficult airway from past to present. With the development of technology, imaging methods have become routine applications in clinical use. Ultrasonography and indirect laryngoscopy have been shown to be used in predicting difficult airway in the literature, but there is no study showing which is a better predictor.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject is operated in ear, nose and throat department.
• Subject over the age of 18.
• Subject giving consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject under the age of 18
• Subject with a history of radiotherapy in the head and neck region,
• Subject with facial deformity,
• Subject whose neck movements have been restricted by previous trauma or surgery,
• Subject has laryngeal disease
• Previously operated subject with known airway assessment
• Morbidly obese subject with BMI> 40