Abstract
Background: Difficult Mask Ventilation (DMV) is a potentially life-threatening situation that can arise during anesthesia. Accordingly, the majority of current airway management guidelines include risk assessments for DMV. Although Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is among the most important risk factors associated with DMV, other measurements such as the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) may play an important role in determining patient risk.This study investigated the relationship between DMV and AHI, and determined preoperative risk factors for DMV in Chinese patients.Methods: A prospective cohort trial enrolled patients scheduled for elective surgery. After obtaining informed consent, patient demographic information was collected, and patients were tested with pre-operative polysomnography. Inclusion criteria: Patients >18 years of age, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA) I-III, and planned elective surgery with general anesthesia. Exclusion criteria: malformations of the airway, patients undergoing regional anesthesia, and patients with contraindications to mask ventilation (i.e. planned awake intubation). A logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between AHI and DMV. Results: A total of 159 patients were analyzed. For both primary and secondary outcomes, the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio for DMV showed significant increases of 5 AHI units. AHI, age, and the Mallampati classification were found to be independent predictive factors for DMV.Conclusions AHI is associated with DMV as a novel independent risk factor in Chinese patients. Along with age and Mallampati classification, AHI should be included in establishing a superior predictive strategy DMV screening.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number # ChiCTR17013076; Date of Registration on October 22nd, 2017).
Utilization of apnea-hypopnea index as a novel predictive factor for difficult mask ventilation in the Chinese population under general anesthesia
