Acromioaxillosuprasternal Notch Index and Old Head and Anatomic Neck Criteria in Predicting Difficult Laryngoscopy in Tracheal Intubation in Children under General Anesthesia

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, various methods are being used for determining difficult laryngoscopy. The present study aimed to compare the acromioaxillosuprasternal notch index function with the old head and neck anatomic criteria in predicting difficult laryngoscopy with respect to trachea intubation under general anesthesia in children. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 379 children under intubation with general anesthesia entered the study. Patients were divided into two groups: easy laryngoscopy (grades 1 and 2) and difficult laryngoscopy (grades 3 and 4) based on Cormack-Lehane score. The thyromental distance systems, height to thyromental distance, Upper-Lip-Bite test, neck circumference, and acromioaxillosuprasternal notch index were studied and compared. Results: Laryngoscopy was difficult in 48 subjects (38 were grade 3 and 10 were grade 4). Interestingly, no significant difference was detected between easy and difficult laryngoscopies based on the thyromental distance, neck circumference, height to thyromental distance, and acromioaxillosuprasternal notch index (P>0.05). height to thyromental distance , acromioaxillosuprasternal notch index , and neck circumference have a sensitivity of 32.2%, 47.9%, 51.1%, respectively, and the specificity was 52.7%, 45.6%, and 48.9%, respectively. Conclusion: Neck circumference and acromioaxillosuprasternal notch index outperform the height to thyromental distance. On the other hand, Modified Mallampati test is better than Upper-Lip-Bite test in determining difficult laryngoscopy in children.