Sleep

The Mallampati Classification is the amount of posterior pharynx that can be visualized and correlates with difficult airway recognition and ease or difficulty in intubation. Have the patient open their mouth as wide as they can and stick out their tongue while in the sitting position. For patients with a Mallampati score of 4, intubation should be attempted with video assistance (GlideScope, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, etc.) The Class IV Mallampati is often associated with increased risk of sleep apnea (OSA).

The thyromental distance (or Patil test), is the distance from the tip of the thyroid cartilage to the tip of the chin (mentum). You want to ask the patient to extend their head and neck as far back as possible. This distance estimates the potential space into which the tongue can be displaced on laryngoscopy. This should be greater than 7.0 cm; a distance of less than 6.0 cm is associated with difficult intubation.