The effects of dynamic airway photographs on preoperative airway planning among a panel of anesthetists.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether having preoperative airway photographs will change the preanesthetic airway plan.


METHODS
Questionnaire.


METHODS
American academic medical center (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston MA).


METHODS
Twenty-five test subjects (American Society of Anesthesiologists 1-4) were enrolled to have their preoperative airway photographs taken as well as to have a customary preoperative history and physical examination. In addition, 15 anesthetists were enrolled to review the subjects' preoperative history, physical examination, and preoperative airway photographs.


METHODS
All 15 anesthetists were asked to fill out a survey for airway management for each test subject.


RESULTS
All 15 anesthetists completed the survey. Across all providers, plans were changed a median of 24% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7-38.6). Among attending anesthesiologists, airway management plans were changed 30% of the time (95% CI, 12.4-40.0), whereas among nonattending level providers, plans changed 24% of the time (95% CI, 12.0-38.8). χ2Tests found no difference between the percent change of airway plans between attending and nonattending level providers (P=.306).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the addition of dynamic airway photographs to preoperative airway reports affects airway management plans among a variety of anesthesia care providers. In general, dynamic airway photographs can aid preoperative airway management planning.
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: thanifi@gmail.com.
M Tariq
MT
Hanifi
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: mppimentel@partners.org.
Marc Philip T
MP
Pimentel
University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55N Lake Ave, Worcester, , MA 01655, USA. Electronic address: Christine.motzkus-feagens@umassmed.edu.
Christine
C
Motzkus
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: jgosnell@partners.org.
James
J
Gosnell
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: laglio@partners.org.
Linda S
LS
Aglio
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058109:Airway Management / Q000379:methods*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Airway management; Preoperative airway examination; Preoperative airway photography; Preoperative surgical evaluation