Abstract

Comparative study of airway assesment scoring of modified mallampatti versus cormack and lehane grading by video laryngoscope

Author(s): Tarun Kumar Yadav*

Background: The unanticipated difficult laryngoscopic intubation places the patient at increased risk of complications ranging from sore throat and serious airway trauma to aspiration of gastric contents. This study was undertaken to compare the modified mallampatti scores with cormack and lehane scoring by video laryngoscope and to find the correlation of modified mallampatti scoring with cormack and lehane scoring through video laryngoscope.

Methodology: This cross sectional was conducted in the department of anaesthesiology and CCM, Nehru hospital, BRD medical college, Gorakhpur, U.P. India. Patients aged between 18-65 years of either gender belonging to ASA grade I and II, undergoing elective procedure from all surgical specialities requiring endotracheal intubation by anaesthetics video laryngoscopy were enrolled.

Results: Out of 100 cases 78 (78%) patients were females and 22 (22%) were males. The cases with ASA grade I and II were in proportion 54% and 46% respectively. According to mallampati classification the majority of cases were with class 1 (65%), class 2 (25%), class 3 (8%) and class 4 (2%) respectively. According to Cormack and Lehane grading the majority of cases belonged to grade 1 (60%), grade 2 (24%), grade 3 (12%) and grade 4 (4%) respectively. Out of 100 cases the modified mallampati and CL grading shows same level correlation in 71 cases while in 29 cases it was different or non-correlated. Eighty eight cases had time taken less than 15 seconds while 12 cases took more than 15 seconds for laryngoscopy and intubation.

Conclusion: Modified mallampati scoring and cormack and lehane grading is a good predictor for tracheal intubation. Despite of video laryngoscopy use the modified mallampati classification did not correl ate grade to grade with cormack and lehane grading in all cases. Regular use of video laryngoscopy may improve the overall ease of intubation.