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. 2018 Oct-Dec;34(4):485-489.
doi: 10.4103/joacp.JOACP_283_17.

Ratio of height to thyromental distance as a predictor of difficult laryngoscopy: A prospective observational study

Suvarna Kaniyil  1 , Krishnadas Anandan  1 , Sanjith Thomas  2
Affiliations

Ratio of height to thyromental distance as a predictor of difficult laryngoscopy: A prospective observational study

Suvarna Kaniyil et al. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2018 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Background and aim: Various airway indices are used either singly or in combination to predict difficult laryngoscopy. Recently introduced ratio of height to thyromental distance (RHTMD) is reported to have better predictability. We aimed to assess the prediction of difficult laryngoscopy by RHTMD and compared it with other indices.

Material and methods: In this prospective, single-blinded comparative observational study, 300 adult patients of either gender scheduled to receive general anesthesia were assessed. Airway indices, like RHTMD, thyromental distance, modified Mallampati test, and upper lip bite test, were assessed and correlated with Cormack and Lehane's laryngoscopic grading. The validity parameters like specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were calculated for each test. Effect of combining all the indices was also analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed and optimal cutoff value for the quantitative indices was calculated.

Results: The incidence of difficult laryngoscopy in our study was 5.33%. Of the four indices, the single best test was RHTMD, with better sensitivity, high specificity, NPV, and accuracy and with good PPV. A combination of all the indices resulted in 100% sensitivity and higher specificity.

Conclusions: RHTMD is a single best preoperative test for predicting difficult laryngoscopy. A combination of tests has higher sensitivity and specificity with better discriminative power. Therefore indices should be used in combination in the preoperative airway assessment of adult patients.

Keywords: Airway assessment test; difficult airway; difficult laryngoscopy; ratio of height to thyromental distance.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Receiver operating characteristic curves for airway indices
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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