title: Relevance of radiological and clinical measurements in predicting difficult intubation using light wand (Surch-lite™) in adult patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the correlation between anatomical features of the upper airway (evaluated via computed tomography imaging) and the ease of light wand-assisted endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing ear, nose and throat surgery under general anaesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mallampati class, laryngoscopic grade, thyromental distance, neck circumference, body mass index, mouth opening and upper lip bite class were assessed. Epiglottis length and angle, tongue size and narrowest pharyngeal distance were determined using computed tomography imaging. Intubation success rate, time to successful intubation (intubating time) and postoperative throat symptoms were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 152 patients, 148 (97.4%) were successfully intubated on the first attempt (mean intubating time 11.5 ± 6.7 s). Intubating time was positively correlated with laryngoscopic grade and body mass index in both male and female patients, and Mallampati class and neck circumference in male patients. Epiglottis length was positively correlated with intubating time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ease of intubation was influenced by epiglottis length. Radiological evaluation may be useful for preoperative assessment of patients undergoing endotracheal intubation with light wand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Joungmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyong Shil
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Myeong
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ro
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Yeon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea jbkim@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong Bun
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epiglottis; Intubation; Light wand; Tongue