Evaluation of Difficult Airway With Ultrasound

Ultrasonography (USG) is widely used in airway management, such as prediction of difficult airways, localization of cricothyroid membranes, selection of tracheal tubes, and evaluation of patients with a full stomach. Among these, ultrasonic measurements of the dimensions of certain airway parameters have predictive value for difficult airways; therefore, airway ultrasonography is recommended as an aid in difficult airway prediction. Many studies have shown that some ultrasonic parameters such as hyomental distance in the extension position and distance from the skin to the epiglottis can predict difficult airways in adults. However, it is unclear whether these parameters can be used to predict difficult airways in children. In recent studies, various protocols have started to be established . We think that we will encounter more difficult airways in pediatric patients with adenotonsillectomy because there may be anatomical differentiation due to adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy. Therefore, we will evaluate the relationship between skin-epiglottic distance, hyomental distance and tongue base thickness measurements, which are used in most studies, and the mallampati score on physical examination and the Cormack Lehane score during laryngoscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of difficult airway between pediatric patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy (Group 1) and pediatric patients who underwent any surgical operation (Group 2) using USG measurements.

Group 1:Pediatric patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy Group 2: Pediatric patients who underwent any surgical operation

Inclusion criteria

• ASA 1-2 patients
• Pediatric patients aged 3-8
• Those planned for elective surgery

Exclusion criteria

• Those with a history of congenital anomalies (head, face, body)
• ASA 3-4-5 patients
• Those who will undergo emergency surgery
• Those who will be subjected to an airway or anesthesia technique other than orotracheal intubation
• Newborn group patients
• Patients younger than 3 years old and older than 8 years old