Combined Ultrasonographic Skin-to-Epiglottis Distance With Modified Mallampati Versus Modified Mallampati Score Alone in Predicting Difficult Laryngoscopy During Tracheal Intubation Under General Anesthesia

Combined Ultrasonographic Skin-to-Epiglottis Distance With Modified Mallampati Versus Modified Mallampati Score Alone in Predicting Difficult Laryngoscopy During Tracheal Intubation Under General Anesthesia: A Prospective, Randomized Double Blinded Controlled Study

This study will evaluate how well an ultrasound measurement of the distance from the skin to the epiglottis, when combined with the modified Mallampati score, can predict difficult laryngoscopy in adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. Adult patients scheduled for surgery requiring tracheal intubation will be randomly assigned to two assessment strategies before anesthesia: one group will have the usual bedside airway assessment with modified Mallampati alone, and the other group will have modified Mallampati plus a quick, painless ultrasound scan of the front of the neck to measure the skin-to-epiglottis distance. During intubation, the anesthesiologist, who is blinded to the preoperative assessments, will grade the laryngoscopic view using the Cormack-Lehane classification, and the investigators will compare how accurately each assessment approach predicts difficult laryngoscopy (grade 3-4). The study does not change how anesthesia or airway management is performed; ultrasound and clinical assessments are added solely for measurement and data collection, with minimal risk to participants and potential future benefits in improving airway risk stratification and patient safety.

This is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded controlled study designed to evaluate whether combining preoperative ultrasonographic skin-to-epiglottis distance (SED) with the modified Mallampati score improves prediction of difficult laryngoscopy compared with the modified Mallampati score alone in adult elective surgical patients undergoing tracheal intubation under general anesthesia. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A will undergo standard preoperative airway assessment including modified Mallampati score only, while Group B will receive both modified Mallampati assessment and ultrasound measurement of SED using a standardized anterior neck scanning protocol in the preoperative area.

All patients will subsequently undergo direct laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation in the operating room, performed by an experienced anesthesiologist who is blinded to the preoperative airway assessment results; the Cormack-Lehane laryngoscopic view during the first intubation attempt will be recorded as the reference standard for defining difficult laryngoscopy (grade 3-4). Additional data collected will include age, sex, body mass index, relevant comorbidities, and type of surgery to allow adjustment for potential confounders. The primary endpoint is the diagnostic accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of SED plus modified Mallampati versus modified Mallampati alone for predicting difficult laryngoscopy. Secondary endpoints include the correlation of SED with Cormack-Lehane grade, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of each assessment strategy, and exploratory subgroup analyses in higher-risk patients such as those with obesity.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18-65 years.
• ASA physical status I-II.
• Scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring tracheal intubation with direct laryngoscopy.
• Able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency surgery.
• Known or suspected difficult airway requiring planned alternative intubation technique (e.g., awake fiberoptic).
• History of significant upper airway pathology, neck mass, prior neck surgery, or radiation affecting airway anatomy.
• Limited mouth opening, cervical spine instability, or contraindication to standard sniffing position.
• Pregnancy.
• Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.