Thyromental height test as a new method for prediction of difficult intubation with double lumen tube.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Predicting difficult intubation is of high clinical interest.

Methods

237 patients aged ≥18 years were included in the study. Preoperative airway evaluation included: Mallampati test, thyromental distance, sternomental distance and thyromental height test. During direct laryngoscopy Cormack & Lehane classification was graded. We calculated the ROC AUC, sensitivity and specificity for thyromental height test as a primary end point of our study.

Results

Only thyromental height test and Cormack-Lehane scale proved significant on occurrence of difficult intubation. The optimal sensitivity and specificity values of thyromental height test were met with a cut off value of 50 mm. With 1 mm increase in thyromental height test, risk of difficult intubation decreased by 7%.

Conclusion

Thyromental height test is a simple, easy to perform and non-invasive test to predict difficult intubation in patients scheduled for elective double lumen tube intubation during thoracic surgical procedures. With 1 mm above 50 mm increase in thyromental height test the risk of difficult intubation decreased by 7%.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02988336.

SUBMITTER: Palczynski P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6136707 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature