Predictors of difficult supraglottic airway ventilation
Predictors of difficult supraglottic airway ventilation
Male gender
Obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2)
Poor dentition or large incisors
Neck radiation history
Reduced mouth opening
Reduced cervical spine motion
Tonsillar hypertrophy
Glottic, hypopharyngeal, and subglottic pathology
Factors that predict difficulty with ventilation using a supraglottic airway such as the LMA.
BMI: body mass index; LMA: laryngeal mask airway.
Data from:
Ramachandran SK, Mathis MR, Tremper KK, et al. Predictors and clinical outcomes from failed Laryngeal Mask Airway Unique™: a study of 15,795 patients. Anesthesiology 2012; 116:1217.
Law JA, Broemling N, Cooper RM, et al. The difficult airway with recommendations for management--part 2--the anticipated difficult airway. Can J Anaesth 2013; 60:1119.