Neck Circumference and Mallampati Test a Predictor for Management Difficult Airway in Obese Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background: Airway management can be challenging in anaesthetic procedures in the obese patients. Preoperative airway evaluation in obese patient requires particular care and attention. In this study we assessed classical bedside tests and included neck circumference (NC). Method: We retrospectively evaluated the preoperative airway evaluation records of 489 obese [body mass index (BMI) greater than30 kg/m2] patients who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy. Thyromental Distance (TMD), Sternomental Distance (SMD), Mallampati Score (MLP), NC values are recorded in the preoperative airway evaluation were compared with intubation score (IS) and Cormack and Lehanes scale. Results: The results indicate that, in the patient with large NC, and higher MLP score were the predictors of potential intubation problems. Conclusion: We found that problematic intubation was associated with increasing NC, and a MLP score of 3 to 4. Neck circumference should be assessed preoperatively to predict difficult intubation in obese patients.