EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DIFFICULT AIRWAY IN OBESITY: A SINGLE CENTER RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

The primary aim of this single center retrospective study was to evaluate difficult mask ventilation (DMV) and difficult laryngoscopy (DL) in a unique group of obese patients. A total of 427 adult patients with body mass index (BMI) >= 25 and surgically treated for endometrial cancer from 2011 to 2014 were assessed. Additional increase in BMI, comorbidities, bedside screening tests for risk factors, and the tools used to manage the patients were noted and their effects on DMV and/or DL investigated. Every escalation in the number of risk factors increased the probability of DMV 2.2-fold, DL 1.8-fold and DMV+DL 3.0-fold. Among bedside tests, limited neck movement (LNM), short neck (SN) and absence of teeth were significant for DMV (p<0.05), LNM, SN and obstructive sleep apnea for DL (p<0.05), and LNM and SN for DMV+DL (p<0.05). However, a 10-point increase of BMI was not an independent risk factor when patients with BMI >25% were considered. In conclusion, LNM and SN are independent risk factors for developing DMV and/or DL in obese endometrial cancer patients, while BMI increase over 30 was not additionally affecting difficult airway.