Craniofacial Parameters Cannot Predict Difficulty for Laryng Visualization in Children 1–4 Years Old

Abstract

Airway assesment is an important measure to minimize airway complication, both in adults and children. Cormack-Lehane grading system is most widely used as guideline in predicting difficulty for larynx visualization in adults. However, not much had been found regarding guidelines for children. This study was conducted to find the association between craniofacial parameters and Cormack-Lehane (C-L) Score in children. This study is an analytic-descriptive study conducted to find the most significant craniofacial parameters (lower lip mental, tragus – lip distance, mental angle, mentohioid, and angulus distance) towards difficulty of larynx visualization in children aged 1–4 years old who had general anesthesia in Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital. The sample was obtained using the consecutive sampling method. Based on the inclusion criteria, we have collected 295 patients with the consent from the parents. Difficulty in laryngoscopy (Cormack-Lehane III and IV) was found in 8.1% patients. There was no significant association beteween five craniofacial parameters and Cormack-Lehane score with p values of each craniofacial parameters of 0.679, 0.173, 0.590, 0.251, and 0.884, respectively. The craniofacial parameter explained in this study cannot be used as a measurement tool for predicting of laryngoscopy difficulty in children age 1–4 years old.