What can Anthropometric Measurements Tell us About Mallampati Classification?

Objective: Mallampati scoring is the most common examination method for predicting possible intubation problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of facial anthropometric measurements with the modified Mallampati score (MMS). Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 153 male and 170 female volunteers (mean ages, 48,9p16,9 and 44,1p15,4 years, respectively). All participants were subjected to Mallampati scoring and facial anthropometric measurements during pre-operative visit. Anthropometric measurements included inter-incisor gap, lower face height, thyrogonial length, thyromental distance and bigonial distance. The relationship of anthropometric measurements with the MMS was investigated by statistical analysis. Results: Bigonial distance showed a positive correlation with the MMS (r=0.857; pl0.001), whereas inter-incisor gap, lower face height, and thyromental distance showed negative correlations (r=-0.809, r=-0.738, and r=-0.762 respectively pl0.001 for all). ROC and AUC analysis showed that the BGD level had the highest significant AUC (pl0.001). Optimal cut-off point for BGD was g113 mm, and at this cut-off point, the sensitivity rate was 94.8% and the specificity rate was 95.9%. BGD was the best predictor for discriminating MMS 3-4. Conclusion: We suggest that facial measurements such as bigonial distance may be used as alternatives for Mallampati evaluation when the patient's condition is not suitable for Mallampati scoring. Turkish Baslik: Antropometrik Olcumler Mallampati Siniflamasi Hakkinda Ne Soyleyebilir? Anahtar Kelimeler: Antropometri, Bigonial mesafe, kesici disler arasi mesafe, Modifiye Mallampati skoru, Tiromental mesafe Giris: Mallampati skoru entubasyon ile ilgili olasi sorunlari tahmin etmek icin en yaygin kullanilan yontemidir. Bu calismanin amaci, modifiye Mallampati skoru (MMS) ile yuz antropometrik olcumler arasindaki iliskiyi arastirmaktir. Metod: Calisma 153 erkek ve 170 kadin gonullu ile (ortalama yas, 48,9 p 16,9 ve 44,1 p 15,4 yil, sirasiyla) yapildi. Tum katilimcilar pre-operatif ziyareti sirasinda Mallampati skoru degerlendirmesi ve yuz antropometrik olcumleri yapildi. Antropometrik olcumler arasinda kesici disler arasi mesafe, alt yuz yuksekligi, tirogonial uzunluk, tiromental mesafe ve bigonial mesafe vardi. MMS ile antropometrik olcumler arasindaki iliski istatistiksel analizi ile arastirildi. Sonuc: Bigonial mesafe MMS ile pozitif korelasyon oldugu gozlendi kesici disler arasi mesafe, alt yuz yuksekligi ve tiromental mesafe negatif korelasyon gostermekteydi (r = 0.857 p l0.001) (r = -0,809, r = -0,738, r = - 0.762 p l0.001). ROC ve AUC analizi bigonial mesafede yuksek duzeyde anlamli AUC (p l0.001) oldugu saptandi. Bigonial mesafe icin optimal cut-off noktasig 113 mm idi ve bunun duyarlilik orani % 94.8 ve ozgulluk orani % 95.9 idi. Bigonial mesafe MMS 3-4 icin en iyi tanimlayici oldugu saptandi. Tartisma: Bu calisma, hastanin genel durumunun Mallampati skorunun degerlendirmesi icin uygun olmadigi zamanlarda bigonial mesafe gibi antropometrik yuz olcumleri Mallampati degerlendirmesi icin alternatif olarak kullanilabilecegini gostermektedir.