Investigation of the relationship between the anatomical structure of the oropharynx and neck anthropometric measurements

Endotracheal intubation is the insertion of a tube into the trachea to secure the airway or to control breathing. It is the safest way to ensure upper airway patency, to help the patient breathe, and to provide controlled breathing to the patient whose breathing has stopped or stopped. Incorrect or difficult intubation is one of the causes of anaesthesia-related morbidity and mortality, and the incidence varies from community to community, but is between 1, 5-13%. It is important to determine prediction of intubation difficulty, since the patient may develop serious hazards when intubation cannot be performed. Prediction of difficult intubation allows the anaesthetic method to be changed, assistive devices to be prepared and an experienced person to be available and reduce complications. Many tests have been described to guide the prediction of difficult intubation. The aim of our study was to use some of the tests used in the literature and anaesthesia practice and to evaluate the superiority of these tests and the relationship between them. The tests we used in this study were mallampati test, sternometal distance measurement, thyromental distance measurement, head circumference, neck circumference, neck length, mandibular width, mandibular length, interincisors distance measurement. In our study, measurements were performed on a total of 126 individuals. As a result of our study, it is seen that intubation of individuals with Mallampati classification 3-4, high body mass index, large head circumference and neck circumference is more difficult. In addition, it was concluded that these tests we used alone do not have much meaning and superiority to each other, and if they are used together, more accurate results can be obtained.