Obesity Does Not Make Intubation Difficult

The reasons for difficult tracheal intubation are the same in obese patients as they are in other patients.

Many clinicians believe that obesity makes tracheal intubation more difficult. These authors studied 100 consecutive morbidly obese (body mass index [BMI] >40 kg/m²) patients undergoing elective surgery to determine factors that predict difficult intubation.

Mallampati score, neck circumference, mouth opening, thyromental distance, sternomental distance, neck mobility, dental condition, and history of obstructive sleep apnea were assessed preoperatively. After patients underwent rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia, the Cormack-Lehane laryngoscopic view at intubation was graded, and the grade was multiplied by the number of intubation attempts. Intubation was considered easy if the product was less than 3 and problematic if the pro…

Reviewing Author

Ron M. Walls, MD, FRCPC, FACEP