Ultrasound vs Clinical Parameters for Difficult Airway Prediction in Obesity
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Conditions studied: Obesity (BMI > 35), Difficult Airway, Difficult Airway Intubation, Difficult Mask Ventilation
In brief
Obesity is associated with anatomical changes in the upper airway that increase the risk of difficult laryngoscopy and difficult mask ventilation during anesthesia. Conventional airway assessment parameters such as Mallampati score, neck circumference, and STOP-BANG scale are widely used but have limited predictive accuracy in obese patients. Airway ultrasonography has emerged as a promising non-invasive tool for difficult airway prediction; however, ultrasonographic criteria have not yet been standardized. This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the utility of airway ultrasonography in predicting difficult airway in adult obese patients (BMI \>30 kg/m²) scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. Ultrasonographic measurements will include the distance from skin to hyoid bone (DSHB) at the level of the hyoid bone, the anterior neck soft tissue thickness at the thyrohyoid membrane level, and the hyomental distance ratio (HMDR). These parameters will be compared with conventional airway assessment tools and correlated with intraoperative Cormack-Lehane laryngoscopy grade and Han Scale mask ventilation score to determine their predictive value for difficult airway.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07528677
- Run by
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital
- People needed
- 70
- Starts
- 2026-04-10
- Expected to finish
- 2026-11-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-04-14
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Age 18-65 years
- BMI >30 kg/m2
- ASA physical status I, II, or III
- Scheduled for elective surgery requiring orotracheal intubation under general anesthesia
- Written informed consent obtained
You may not qualify if…
- Emergency surgery
- History of previous head and neck surgery or radiotherapy
- Known or anticipated difficult airway (history of difficult intubation)
- Presence of cervical spine pathology or limited neck mobility
- Presence of oropharyngeal or laryngeal pathology
- Pregnancy
- Patients with tracheostomy
- Refusal to participate
Where it is running
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital — Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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