Key result
The thyromental height test (TMHT) predicted difficult intubation with higher sensitivity (93.33% vs 77.78%) and accuracy (92.00% vs 80.66%) compared to the modified Mallampati test.
Why the study?
Prevision of a potentially difficult airway preoperatively is imperative, and the comparative effectiveness of the new thyromental height test versus the modified Mallampati test was assessed.
Does the thyromental height test predict difficult intubation better than the modified Mallampati test in preoperative patients?
Observational (n=150)
Does the thyromental height test predict difficult intubation better than the modified Mallampati test in preoperative patients?
The thyromental height test is a more accurate and sensitive tool than the modified Mallampati test for predicting difficult intubation preoperatively.
TMHT may aid preoperative airway assessment; leaves open need for prospective validation before practice change.
Background: Prevision of a potentially difficult airway in the preoperative period is imperative. The available tools are evaluation of mouth opening, Mallampati test; atlanto-occipital extension; hyomental, thyromental, and sternomental distances; and upper lip bite test; thyromental height test (TMHT) is a new indicator. Aims: To compare the effectiveness of preoperative anaesthetic airway evaluation methods of TMHT and Modified mallampati test (MMT) to predict the difficulty in intubation. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was aimed to compare the effectiveness of preoperative anesthetic airway evaluation methods of TMHT and modified Mallampati test (MMT) to predict the difficulty in intubation. A total of 150 subjects were included in this study. MMT and TMHT were compared, and sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy were calculated. Results: On comparison, we found TMHT to be more sensitive (93.33%) than MMT (77.78%); both tests have high specificity (TMHT 91.43%; MMT 81.90%). Positive predictive value was 82.35% for TMHT and 64.81% for MMT. Similarly, negative predictive value was 96.97% for TMHT and 89.58% for MMT. Accuracy was 92.00% for TMHT and 80.66% for MMT. Conclusions: TMHT can predict difficult intubation better than MMT (high positive predictive value). However, both TMHT and MMT predict easy intubations effectively, their negative predictive values being high.
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Chhatrapati et al. (2021) conducted an observational in preoperative airway assessment (n=150). Thyromental height test (TMHT) vs. Modified Mallampati test (MMT) was evaluated on accuracy to predict difficulty in intubation. The thyromental height test (TMHT) predicted difficult intubation with higher sensitivity (93.33% vs 77.78%) and accuracy (92.00% vs 80.66%) compared to the modified Mallampati test.
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