Recommendations for Evaluation of the Airway 2022
Before the initiation of anesthetic care or airway management, assure that an airway risk assessment is performed by the person(s) responsible for airway management whenever feasible to identify patient, medical, surgical, environmental, and anesthetic factors (e.g., risk of aspiration) that may indicate the potential for a difficult airway.
o When available in the patient’s medical and anesthetic records, evaluate demographic information, clinical conditions, diagnostic test findings, patient/family interviews, and questionnaire responses.
o Assess multiple demographic and clinical characteristics to determine a patient’s potential for a difficult airway or aspiration.
• Before the initiation of anesthetic care or airway management, conduct an airway physical examination to further identify physical characteristics that may indicate the potential for a difficult airway.
o The physical examination may include:
Assessment of facial features: mouth opening, the ability to prognath, head and neck mobility, prominent upper incisors, presence of a beard, and the upper lip bite test.
Assessment of anatomical measurements and landmarks:
1.Mallampati and Modified Mallampati scores,
2.thyromental distance, sternomental distance,
5.ratio of neck circumference to thyromental distance,
6.ratio of height to thyromental distance,
7.hyomental distance, and hyomental distance ratio.
Measurements obtained from ultrasound included skin-to-hyoid distance, tongue volume, and distance from skin to epiglottis.
o Additional evaluation to characterize the likelihood or nature of the anticipated airway difficulty may include bedside endoscopy, virtual laryngoscopy/bronchoscopy (MRI/CT reconstruction, or 3D printing may be a useful means of testing methods for device insertion or for practitioner training.
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