Difficult Mask Ventilation

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.

During surgery, right after anesthesia is given, the first step to help the patient breathe is to provide breathing support with a mask. This step is very important because if there is a problem with mask ventilation, the anesthesia team must quickly use other methods to help the patient breathe. For some people, mask ventilation can be more difficult. Factors such as older age, having a beard, missing teeth, being overweight, sleep apnea, or certain facial shapes can make this process harder. To make mask ventilation easier, special devices placed in the mouth are used. The most common one is called the Guedel airway. In recent years, a new device called the Tulip airway has also been introduced. The shape and features of the Tulip airway are designed to make breathing support easier. In this study, we will compare the Tulip airway and the Guedel airway in patients who are expected to have more difficult mask ventilation. Our goal is to find out which device makes it easier and safer to help patients breathe.