Airway Assessment

e.g. obesity, high-arched palate, short neck, facial / neck trauma

• MOUTH — 3 fingers should fit mouth opening (interincisor distance // Patil’s test)
• UNDER CHIN — 3 fingers should fit the space between mentum to hyoid bone
• THYROMENTAL DISTANCE — 2 fingers should fit the space between inner border of mentum to upper border of thyroid cartilage
→ Indicates floor of mouth is adequate in size to accommodate tongue

**Use patient’s own fingers

Mallampati classes I & II / Laryngeal grade I & II: good laryngeal visualisation, low intubation failure rates
Mallampati classes III & IV / Laryngeal grade III & IV: poor laryngeal visualisation, higher intubation failure rates

e.g. presence of foreign body in airway , disruption of integrity of airway

• Neck should be able to be positioned in ‘sniffing position‘ i.e. flexion at cervical spine + extension at atlanto-occipital joint
• Causes of decreased neck mobility e.g. trauma, arthritis

large / loose teeth, dentures

presence of vomitus, secretions, blood, bone fragments obscuring airways

receding chin with large tongue; buck teeth

TMJ and neck mobility