Airway assessment

Airway assessment

The di ffi culty encountered when performing airway manoeu - vres, i.e. hand ventilation, intubation and front of neck access, can be predicted to some extent by simple examination. Failure to assess and plan airway management can have fatal consequences. The patient is assessed for: /uni25CF modified Mallampati class ( Table 21.3 ); /uni25CF mouth opening >3 /uni00A0 cm ( Figure 21.1 ); /uni25CF thyromental distance >6.5 /uni00A0 cm; /uni25CF thyrosternal distance >12.5 /uni00A0 cm; /uni25CF ability to protrude the jaw ( Figure 21.2 ); /uni25CF ability to extend the head at the atlanto-occipital junction ( Figure 21.3 ). An essay on the shaking palsy in 1817. When more than one of the above tests are abnormal, the chances of experiencing di ffi culty in obtaining and securing the airway become greater. Poor dentition, facial hair, upper airway tumours/scarring/infections, obesity and neck size are also important factors that will a ff ect the airway management plan. Previous anaesthetic charts or alerts carried by patients for a di ffi cult airway are invaluable sources when assessing a patient.

modi /f_i ed by Samsoon and Young). Grade 1 Fauces, pillars, soft palate and uvula seen Grade 2 Fauces, soft palate with some part of uvula seen Grade 3 Soft palate seen Grade 4 Hard palate only seen Figure 21.1 Normal mouth opening (>3 cm), demonstrating Mallam pati grade 1.