Factors Affecting to Difficulty of Intubation in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer at Udonthani Cancer Hospital.

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to assess factors affect to difficult intubation among patients with head and neck cancer under general anesthesia. The 255 cases was selected by purposive sampling and data retrieved from patient’s record form before general anesthesia during January2019 to June 2020. Data analyzed using Binary logistic regression. The research results were 5 factors significantly statistically, including mallampati class III and class IV compare class I and class II result was difficult intubations were encountered in some of the patients with Mallampati scoring (MS) system Class3 and 4 was 4.96 times  higher than Class 1 and 2   (OR=4.96, p=0.000), history of face and neck radiation was higher 3.56 time than the patients with no history of face and neck radiation (OR =3.56, p=0.005), patients had history of face and neck surgery was 3.21 times higher than no history of face and neck surgery (OR =3.21, p=0.016) , patients with neck mass  was 2.93 times higher than patients with no neck mass (OR =2.93, p=0.005) and overbite teeth or broken front teeth was 0.23 times than patients with normal teeth (OR =0.23 , p=0.015). 

     Conclusion: Further knowledge about these factors and difficult intubation can be useful in predicting high risk airway procedures as well as in improving overall situation of endotracheal intubation.