Examination of the relationship between anthropometric measurements and modified mallampati test in exacerbation and stabil periods of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT Examination of the Relationship between Anthropometric Measurements and Modified Mallampati Test in Exacerbation and Stabil Periods of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Aim: The objective of the present study is to determine whether it is possible to conducta difficult intubation by applying the modified Mallampati test (MMT) during exacerbation (COPD-E) and stabilization (COPD-S) periods in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the type of the relationship between head and neck anthropometric measurements and MMT scores. Material and Method: The present study included two groups that consisted of 107 healthy individuals over 40 years old (Group 1, Control) and 107 patients who were diagnosed with COPD (Group 2). Two measurements were taken from the patients during attack (exacerbation) and stabilization periods. MMT, body mass index (BMI), head circumference, face height, corpus mandibular length, jaw width, thyromental distance and neck circumference of healthy individuals (Group 1) and patients who applied to Turgut Özal Medical Center Pulmonary Diseases Department (Group 2) were measured and recorded. Statistical analyzes were conducted with IBM SPSS statistics software version 22.0 and p <0.05 level was considered as statistically significant. Results: It was determined that BMI, head circumference and sternomental distance measurements conducted during COPD-E and COPD-S periods were statistically significantly lower when compared to the control group (p <0.05). In the COPD-E period, the MMT score increased statistically significantly as the face height value decreased. During the COPD-S period, it was determined that MMT score increased statistically significantly with increasing BMI. It was also found that the MMT score increased significantly during the COPD-S period as the thyromental distance values decreased. Conclusion: The present study is the first research that assessed head and neck anthropometry in COPD-E and COPD-S periods. It is considered that the low face height value in COPD-E period, the increase in weight and BMI and the decrease in thyromental distance in the COPD-S period could increase the difficult intubation possibility and the present study would contribute to the clinicians by providing a COPD patient database. Keywords: COPD, difficult intubation, modified Mallampati test, anthropometry.