Abstract

A “difficult airway” is a problem in establishing or maintaining gas exchange through a mask or through any artificial airway or can be both. Failure to secure the airway and interruption of gas exchange, for even a few minutes, can result in catastrophic outcome such as brain damage or even death. The problems associated with Airway management continue to be the single most common cause of morbidity and mortality attributable to anesthesia. Tracheal intubation was done with an appropriately sized endotracheal tube. If the intubation was found to be difficult, the anaesthesiologist would first perform an optimal external laryngeal manipulation46 to improve the glottic exposure. If this failed to improve the glottic view, the size of the blade was changed or a McCoy Blade used or a gum elastic bougie was employed as preferred by the anaesthesiologist. In our study we observed 39 patients with difficulty laryngoscopy. As for distribution of age to difficult laryngoscopy is concerned, 18 patients were less than 45 years of age and 21 patients were more than 40 years. The BMI of the patients ranged from 12.6 to 45.0. The mean BMI was 23.0. In our study we observed 39 patients with difficulty laryngoscopy. As for distribution of BMI to difficult laryngoscopy is concerned, 32 patients were of BMI less than 30 and 7 patients were of BMI more than 30. This is statistically not significant.

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