Observational study of Mallampati changes after prone spinal surgery

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Surgical Patient Monitoring
• Airway Management

Background:

• Prone positioning during spinal surgery can affect patient airways.
• Assessing airway changes is crucial for patient safety during and after surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate airway changes in patients undergoing spinal surgery in the prone position.
• To assess the impact of prone positioning on the Modified Mallampati score (MMP).

Main Methods:

• Observational study of 74 patients (18-65 years) undergoing prone spinal surgery.
• Airway assessment using the Modified Mallampati classification (MMP) before surgery and 20 minutes after extubation.
• Airway photographs analyzed by three blinded senior anesthesiologists.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in MMP scores was observed in 78% of patients post-surgery (P<0.001).
• Most changes were one to two classes higher than pre-operative scores.
• No correlation found between MMP changes and surgery duration or fluid administration.

Conclusions:

• Spinal surgery in the prone position is associated with an increased Modified Mallampati score in the majority of patients.
• These findings highlight potential airway modifications that anesthesiologists should consider.