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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Review of Ultrasound Parameters for Predicting Difficult Airways
Published on: April 7, 2023
Use of a simple clinical tool for airway assessment to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes
Amanda S Trudell1, Judette M Louis2, Methodius G Tuuli1
1Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Objective:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. We aimed to test the hypothesis that maternal Mallampati class (MC), as a marker for OSA, is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
Study Design:
We performed a retrospective secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of term births (≥ 37 weeks). Fetal anomalies and aneuploidy were excluded. Primary outcome was small for gestational age (SGA). Secondary outcomes included preeclampsia, neonatal cord arterial blood gas pH < 7.10 and < 7.05, base excess < - 8 and < - 12 mEq/L. Outcomes were compared between mothers with low MC airways and high MC airways using logistic regression.
Results:
A total of 1,823 women met the inclusion criteria. No significant differences were found in the risk of SGA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-1.2), preeclampsia (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8-1.9) or neonatal acidemia (aOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.3-2.0), between high and low MC.
Conclusion:
High MC is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.
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