Evaluation of Difficult Airway Predictors in Pediatric Population as a Clinical Investigation

Background: Preoperative evaluation of anatomical landmarks and clinical factors help identify potentially difficult airway. Till date there are no criteria or absolute guidelines that can be helpful in detecting difficult airway in pediatric population. Aim: To find the predictors of difficult mask ventilation, difficult laryngoscopy and difficult intubation in pediatric population age 1-5 years. Setting and design a prospective study was conducted in 100 ASA grade I/II pediatric patients between 1-5 years, scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia. Patients with congenital upper airway malformations and those with neck or face swelling or scars were excluded from the study. Material and methods: We assessed the usefulness of interincisor gap (IIG), oropharyngeal view with mouth wide open (without tongue protrusion), modified mallampati Class (MMP) , relationship of maxillary and mandibular incisor during normal jaw closure, neck circumference(NC) , thyromental distance (TMD), sternomental distance (SMD), ratio of height to thyromental distance as preoperative predictors of difficult mask ventilation , laryngoscopy and intubation.