A Novel Test, the Sternomental Distance Ratio, Used as a Predictor of Difficult Laryngoscopy in a Normal Population and in Thyroid Tumor Surgery Patients: A Preliminary Study

Authors

  • Evangelia Kopanaki Anesthesiology Department, Thriasio General Hospital of Elefsina
  • Maria Piagkou Department of Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Theano Demesticha Department of Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Emmanouil Anastassiou Anesthesiology Department, Thriasio General Hospital of Elefsina
  • Panagiotis Skandalakis Department of Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.314

Keywords:

Laryngoscopy, Sternomental Distance Ratio, Thyroid Surgery, Thyroid Tumor

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the present preliminary study was to assess whether the sternomental distance ratio (SMDR) could be suitable as a predictor of difficult laryngoscopy, in both normal surgical patients and patients scheduled to undergo thyroid tumor surgery.

Methods. Two hundred and twenty-one consecutive adult patients (among them 122 patients with presumed normal airways and 33 patients with thyroid tumors), scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia, were included in this study. Physical and airway characteristics, SMDR, difficult laryngoscopy (using Cormack-Lehane scale) and any kind of assisted intubation were assessed.

Results. Decreased SMDR demonstrated a strong correlation with difficult laryn­goscopy in both thyroid tumor (Kendall’s tau-b -0.578 (P=0.004) and normal patients -0.362 (P<0.001). Difficult laryngoscopy was 0 at SMDR>1.9 and 33% at SMDR <1.55 (P<0.001). The higher the SMDR was, the better the glottic view obtained.

Conclu­sions. Α SMDR>1.9 indicates an easy laryngoscopy, whereas SMDR <1.55 indicates a difficult one in both thyroid tumor and normal patients. SMDR is an objective test to assess difficult airway in thyroid surgery.

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Published

2021-03-12

How to Cite

Kopanaki, E., Piagkou, M., Demesticha, T., Anastassiou, E., & Skandalakis, P. (2021). A Novel Test, the Sternomental Distance Ratio, Used as a Predictor of Difficult Laryngoscopy in a Normal Population and in Thyroid Tumor Surgery Patients: A Preliminary Study. Acta Medica Academica, 49(3), 249–254. https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.314

Issue

Vol. 49 No. 3 (2020)

Section

Clinical Science

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