title: STOP-Bang and prediction of difficult airway in obese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if a high score (≥ 3) on the STOP-Bang screening questionnaire for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) predicts whether obese patients are at high risk for OSA and increased risk of difficult airway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, questionnaire-based clinical assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  127 ASA physical status 2 and 3 patients, who were scheduled for elective bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were allocated to three groups. Group 1 patients had a previous history of OSA, Group 2 patients had no history of OSA but did have a high STOP-Bang score (≥ 3), and Group 3 patients had no history of OSA but did have a low STOP-Bang score (< 3). Groups 2 and 3 only were assessed using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. After induction and intubation of the patient, an anesthesiologist who was blinded to the three study group allocations completed an airway questionnaire on the three study groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequency of difficult airway, difficult mask ventilation with or without muscle relaxation, poor visualization of the vocal cords, difficulty in blade insertion, and difficult intubation were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group of patients with high STOP-Bang scores (Group 2) and those patients previously diagnosed with OSA (Group1) showed a higher risk for difficult airway than the patients with low STOP-Bang scores (Group 3; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STOP-Bang score may be used as an effective predictor of difficult airway in obese patients. Obese surgical patients with unknown/undiagnosed OSA status should be evaluated using the STOP-Bang questionnaire score.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Oakwood Health Care System, Dearborn, MI 48124, USA.
authors: Gokul
authors: G
authors: Toshniwal
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, The Detroit Medical Center, 4201 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors: George M
authors: GM
authors: McKelvey
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, The Detroit Medical Center, 4201 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Anestheisology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. Electronic address: howang@med.wayne.edu.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Difficult airway management; Intratrcheal; Intubation; Mask ventilation; Obesity; STOP-Bang questionnaire