Laryngoscopy and morbid obesity: a comparison of the "sniff" and "ramped" positions.
BACKGROUND
The effect of patient position on the view obtained during laryngoscopy was investigated.


METHODS
60 morbidly obese patients undergoing elective bariatric were studied. Patients were randomly assigned into one of two groups. In Group 1, a conventional "sniff" position was obtained by placing a firm 7-cm cushion underneath the patient's head, thus raising the occiput a standard distance from the operating-table while the patient remained supine. In Group 2, a "ramped" position was achieved by arranging blankets underneath the patient's upper body and head until horizontal alignment was achieved between the external auditory meatus and the sternal notch. Following induction of general anesthesia, tracheal intubation was performed using a Video MacIntosh laryngoscope. The laryngoscopy and intubation sequences were recorded onto videotape. Three independent investigators, unaware as to which position the patient had been in at the time of tracheal intubation, then viewed the videotape and assigned a numerical grade to the best laryngeal view obtained.


RESULTS
The "ramped" position improved the laryngeal view when compared to a standard "sniff" position, and this difference was statistically significant (P=0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
The "ramped" position is superior to the standard "sniff" position for direct laryngoscopy in morbidly obese patients.
Collins
Jeremy S
JS
Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
Lemmens
Harry J M
HJ
Brodsky
Jay B
JB
Brock-Utne
John G
JG
Levitan
Richard M
RM
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies