Predicting difficult airways using the intubation difficulty scale: a study comparing obese and non-obese patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare intubation difficulty in obese and non-obese patients by intubation difficulty scale (IDS), intubation duration measurement, and oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) levels.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled study.


METHODS
Operating room of a tertiary-care hospital.


METHODS
204 ASA physical status I, II, and III adult patients who underwent elective surgery with endotracheal intubation.


METHODS
Preoperative airway parameters, intubation duration, IDS scores, and lowest SaO(2) during intubation were recorded.


RESULTS
IDS scores were higher in the obese group than the non-obese (2.29 +/- 0.45 and 1.26 +/- 0.2, respectively, P = 0.03). Intubation duration was 45.1 +/- 6 sec for obese versus 36.8 +/- 2.6 sec for the non-obese group (P = 0.20). The lowest SaO(2) recorded was 97%, with no difference noted between groups. Mallampati class >or=3 was found to positively predict intubation difficulty scores greater than 5.


CONCLUSIONS
Difficult intubation was more prevalent among obese than non-obese patients, but intubation duration and lowest SaO(2) levels during intubation were not. Moreover, the modified Mallampati test was found to be a moderately good (60%) predictor of difficult intubation among obese patients.
Lavi
Ronit
R
Department of Anesthesiology, Rambam Medical Center P.O.B. 9602, Haifa 31096, Israel. lavironit@hotmail.com
Segal
Dror
D
Ziser
Avishai
A
D000328:Adult; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen