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Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Review of Ultrasound Parameters for Predicting Difficult Airways
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Validation of age and height based formulae to predict paediatric airway distances - a prospective observational

P Mathew1, V Ashok1, M M Siraj1

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.

Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
|June 7, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Formulas predicting thyromental, mentohyoid, and sternomental distances in children were validated. These measurements aid in preoperative airway evaluation for pediatric patients undergoing surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Airway Management

Background:

  • Preoperative airway evaluation is crucial for pediatric patients before surgery.
  • External airway measurements like thyromental, mentohyoid, and sternomental distances can indicate difficult airways in children.
  • These measurements are influenced by growth and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate age- and height-based formulas for predicting thyromental, sternomental, and mentohyoid distances in pediatric patients.
  • To assess the reliability of these predictive formulas in a clinical setting.
  • To improve preoperative airway assessment in children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study involving 202 children aged 3-15 years.
  • External airway distances (thyromental, mentohyoid, sternomental) were measured preoperatively.
  • Measured distances were compared with values calculated using previously derived age- and height-based formulas.

Main Results:

  • Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement between measured and calculated distances, with mean differences ranging from 0.14 to -0.60 (3-13%).
  • Height-based formulas demonstrated better agreement for mentohyoid and thyromental distances.
  • Age-based formulas showed better agreement for sternomental distance.

Conclusions:

  • The study validates existing formulas for predicting external airway distances in children without obvious anomalies.
  • These validated formulas can aid in preoperative airway assessment for pediatric surgery.
  • Further research is recommended for obese children and those with craniofacial anomalies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Airway assessmentgeneral anesthesiapediatric

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