Determining the Efficiency of Different Preoperative Difficult Intubation Tests on Patients Undergoing Caesarean Section

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy-induced anatomical andphysiological changes in the airway make airwaymanagement difficult in obstetric patients; thus,preoperative evaluation of the airway is important forobstetric patients.Aims: To determine the effectiveness of the modifiedMallampati test; the interincisor, sternomental andthyromental distances and the upper limb bite test.The second aim was to assess the effectiveness of thecombination of the upper limb bite test with the othertests in obstetric patients.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: Pregnant women (n=250) scheduled forcaesarean section were analysed. The patients' ages,heights and weights were collected. Preoperative airwayevaluation was done by using a modified version ofthe Mallampati test. The interincisor, sternomental andthyromental distances were measured, and the upper limbbite test was performed. The laryngoscopy difficulty wasevaluated by using Cormack-Lehane classification.Results: No statistically significant differenceswere found between groups in age, height or weight(p>0.05). The modified Mallampati test and interincisor,sternomental and thyromental distances revealed a lowernumber of easy intubations than that determined by theCormack-Lehane classification and a higher numberof difficult intubations than the actual number of cases(p