Is Airway Management More Risky in Bariatric Surgery?

Airway problems may be experienced more often during anesthesia management in bariatric surgery. In this prospective study, we aimed to compare the incidence of difficult ventilation and intubation between bariatric surgery and other surgeries.

This was a case-control study.

Medical records of 156 patients over the age of 18 who were scheduled for bariatric (n = 68) and nonbariatric surgery (n = 88) under general anesthesia were evaluated.

The percentage of ASA III, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (75%, 33.8%, and 16.2%, respectively) was significantly higher in bariatric surgery patients compared to nonbariatric patients (14.8%, 10.2%, and 3.4%, respectively). No significant difference was found in mean thyromental distance and history of difficult intubation, restriction of cervical extension, beard presence, tooth loss, mallampati, Cormack-Lehane score, intubation score, difficult ventilation, difficult intubation and intubation device used. An increase in neck circumference (>50 cm) rather than body mass index was a more significant indicator in predicting difficult intubation and difficult ventilation.

The incidences of difficult ventilation and difficult intubation were similar in bariatric and nonbariatric surgeries in circumstances where the necessary equipment and experienced anesthesiologists are available.