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Ultrasound vs Clinical Parameters for Difficult Airway Prediction in Obesity

NCT07528677 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 70

Last updated 2026-04-14

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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.

Conditions

  • Obesity (BMI > 35)
  • Difficult Airway
  • Difficult Airway Intubation
  • Difficult Mask Ventilation

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Airway Ultrasonography

Preoperative airway ultrasonography will be performed by a trained anesthesiologist using a linear ultrasound probe with the patient in the supine position and head in neutral position. The following measurements will be obtained: (1) minimum distance from skin to hyoid bone (DSHB) at the transverse view of the hyoid bone level, (2) anterior neck soft tissue thickness at the thyrohyoid membrane level, and (3) hyomental distance ratio (HMDR), calculated as the ratio of hyomental distance in full extension (HMDe) to hyomental distance in neutral position (HMDn). These ultrasonographic parameters will be correlated with intraoperative Cormack-Lehane laryngoscopy grade and Han Scale mask ventilation score to assess their predictive value for difficult airway in obese patients.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital

    lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-04-10
Primary Completion
2026-10-10
Completion
2026-11-30

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07528677 on ClinicalTrials.gov