Decreased tongue mobility -- an explanation for difficult endotracheal intubation?

Established parameters predictive of difficulty in airway management were inconclusive in five ear, nose and throat (ENT) patients. All presented with degrees of tongue fixation - restriction of movement. Initially, experienced anaesthetists concluded that conventional endotracheal intubation would present no problems. Later, there were adjustments to this conclusion, with the ultimate being that four of the patients underwent fibre-optic intubation: one electively, two after repeated failed conventional attempts and one after a failed attempt of retrograde intubation. The last patient underwent elective retrograde intubation. All intubations were performed uneventfully in anaesthetized or sedated patients under spontaneous respiration. We found that tongue fixation was a direct cause of failed conventional endotracheal intubation, and recommend that a detailed tongue status investigation should be routine during Mallampati evaluation. Any abnormality should be seen as predictive of difficult/impossible conventional direct laryngoscopic intubation.