Perioperative Assessment of Difficult Airway Using Ultrasound—A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background The study was conducted with the aim of determining the usefulness of ultrasonography in assessment of difficult airway preoperatively to compare and correlate airway assessment done clinically and airway viewed ultra sonographically with Cormack–Lehane classification of the direct laryngoscopy. Methodology This prospective, observational trial consists of total 150 patients undergoing elective surgeries under general anesthesia. The measurements recorded were interincisor gap, modified Mallampati’s classification, and thyromental distance and the airway assessment of ultrasound done. Based on the Cormack–Lehane classification of laryngoscopic view, patients were classified into different groups: group A—easy intubation and group B—difficult intubation, at the end of the study. Results In both the groups, demographic data were similar except weight, which was significant in group B. Ultrasound measurements of airway done at four levels—hyoid bone, suprasternal-notch, thyroid isthmus, and thyroid—were increased in group B compared with group A, with p-values 0.0002, 0.0001, 0.001, and 0.0001, respectively, showing significant results. Conclusion On the basis of our study, we conclude that by measuring the thickness of soft tissues in the anterior part of neck with ultrasound difficult airway can be predicted, thus ultrasound can be used for assessing difficult airway preoperatively.