This analysis evaluates ultrasound's accuracy as a predictive parameter for difficult laryngoscopy in morbidly obese individuals, suggesting it may enhance airway assessments.
Ultrasound assessment of anterior neck soft tissue thickness is a promising tool for predicting difficult laryngoscopy, particularly in obese patients. Hence, we evaluated 40 obese individuals (BMI > 35) undergoing elective surgery, comparing ultrasonographic measurements at the hyoid bone (DSHB), thyrohyoid membrane (DSEM), and anterior commissure (DSAC) with conventional airway predictors. Difficult laryngoscopy, defined as Cormack豊ehane grade III蜂V, was significantly associated with increased mean values of DSHB (p < 0.0001), DSEM (p< 0.0001) and DSAC (p< 0.002) respectively. Among conventional predictors, only the Modified Mallampati Score showed a significant correlation (p < 0.017). Ultrasonography of anterior neck soft tissues appears to be a reliable and independent predictor, potentially improving preoperative airway assessment in obese patients when combined with standard methods.
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Nair et al. (2025) studied this question.
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