Mask ventilation is the most fundamental skill in airway management. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about difficult mask ventilation (DMV) situations. Various definitions for DMV have been used in the literature. The lack of a precise standard definition creates a problem for studies on DMV and causes confusion in data communication and comparisons. DMV develops because of m...

AIM Failed endotracheal intubation and inadequate ventilation with subsequent insufficient oxygenation can result in serious complications potentially leading to permanent health damage. Difficult intubation may occur not only in patients with apparent pathologies in the orofacial region but also, unexpectedly, in those without abnormalities. This study aimed at finding anthropometric parameter...

This clinical report describes an emergency case of a 49-year-old man, ASA E III status, with clinical symptoms of acute abdomen and ileus, who was scheduled for urgent surgery. Predictors of difficult intubation (Mallampati test Class III, short thyro-mental (< 6 cm) and sterno-mental distance (<10 cm) with limited mouth opening (inter-incisor gap < 3 cm) were associated with significant comor...

This case study describes a 51-year-old, ASA physical status II Hispanic man who underwent liposuction to the anterior neck and resection of adipose tissue of the posterior neck. The patient was diagnosed with multiple symmetric lipomatosis, better known by its eponym, Madelung disease. This disease is characterized by abnormal adipose tissue growth primarily in the neck and shoulder regions. A...

The upper airway abnormalities predisposing to difficult tracheal intubation may also predispose to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The potential association is important as both conditions increase perioperative risk and patients with a trachea that is difficult to intubate may need assessment for OSA. We determined if patients with difficult intubation are at greater risk of OSA and, if so, w...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the combinations of the Mallampati test and anthropometric measurements with the highest selectivity value. In addition, we aim to identify a possible correlation between head circumference measurement, the presence of malignancy and difficult intubation. METHODS Patients who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anaesthesia,...

BACKGROUND Endotracheal intubation is usually associated with hemodynamic changes, especially in patients undergoing cesarean section by general anesthesia. GlideScope® videolaryngoscope (GVL) is a novel video laryngoscope, which does not need direct exposure of vocal cords and produces lesser hemodynamic changes due to lower degrees of trauma and stimuli to oropharynx than the Macintosh direct...

BACKGROUND Difficult and failed intubations, although rarely encountered, are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the current anaesthetic practice. To reduce the incidence of difficult and failed intubations, several devices including the recently developed videolaryngoscopes are available. This randomized controlled study aims to compare the use of the McGrath videolaryngoscope with the...