A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ASSESSMENT OF VARIOUS AIRWAY PREDICTORS TO ANTICIPATE DIFFICULT AIRWAY IN PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: There are a number of key differences between the anatomy and physiology of the paediatric and adult airway and respiratory system that have major implications for airway management in children. This study is carried out for the assessment of various airway predictors to anticipate difficult airway in paediatric Patients and to find out specificity & sensitivity of different test in paediatric population. Methods: It is a prospective study conducted at a tertiary health care centre in 100 pediatric patients of of age group 5 years to 11years. After obtaining the informed consent from parents, detailed history and BMI calculation was done. Airway characteristics were assessed preoperatively. Assessment of ease of bag and mask ventilation, assessment of ease of laryngoscopy according to Cormack Lehane grading and assessment of ease of intubation according to intubation difficulty scale. Statistical analysis was done on IBM SPSS statistics version 20.