Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Jan 2021
Observational StudyAirways ultrasound in predicting difficult face mask ventilation.
Unanticipated difficult airway is a potentially life-threatening event during elective surgery or management of critical conditions. Nevertheless, predicting difficult mask ventilation currently remains a challenge due to the poor sensitivity of available clinical tests. Our primary goal was to verify whether preoperative upper airway ultrasound measurements were useful to predict difficult face mask ventilation. Our secondary goal was to evaluate clinical characteristics and differences between patients who are difficult to ventilate and patients who are not. ⋯ Airways ultrasound evaluation could be an important tool to predict difficult mask ventilation. Further studies are necessary to validate the parameters found and correlate them to the preoperative clinical evaluation.