1.Predictors of difficulty in intubation in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
Cybil Mei Zhi Wang ; Kenny Peter Pang ; Tan Soo Guan ; Kathleen Ann Pang ; Edward Benjamin Pang ; Tan Yuk Ngi Cherilynn ; Yiong Huak Chan ; Brian W. Rotenberg
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(2):133-137
Objective: To evaluate predictors of difficult intubation in
patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Methodology: Prospective series of 405 OSA patients (350
males/55 females) who had upper airway surgery.
Procedures included functional endoscopic sinus surgery,
septoplasty, turbinate reduction, palate/tonsil surgery,
and/or tongue base surgery. Intubation difficulty (ID) was
assessed using Mallampati grade, Laryngoscopic grade
(Cormack and Lehane), and clinical parameters including
BMI, neck circumference, thyromental distance, jaw
adequacy, neck movements and glidescope grading.
Results: Mean age was 41.6 years old; mean BMI 26.6; mean
neck circumference 44.5cm; mean Apnea Hypopnea Index
(AHI) was 25.0; and mean LSAT 82%. The various laryngeal
grades (based on Cormack and Lehane), grade 1 - 53
patients (12.9%), grade 2A - 127 patients (31.0%), grade 2B -
125 patients (30.5%), grade 3 - 93 patients (22.7%) and grade
4 - seven patients (1.7%); hence, 24.4% had difficulties in
intubation. Parameters that adversely affected intubation
were, age of the patient, opening of mouth, retrognathia,
overbite, overjet, limited neck extension, thyromental
distance, Mallampati grade, and macroglossia (p<0.001).
Body mass index (BMI) (p=0.087), neck circumference
(p=0.645), neck aches (p=0.728), jaw aches (p=0.417), tonsil
size (p=0.048), and AHI (p=0.047) had poor correlation with
intubation. BMI-adjusted for Asians and Caucasians,
showed that Asians were more likely to have difficulties in
intubation (adjusted OR = 4.6 (95%Confidence Interval: 1.05
to 20.06) (p=0.043), compared to the Caucasian group.