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risk factors for difficult mask ventilation

Definition (1):
  • Presence of beard
  • Body mass index > 26 kg/m2
  • Lack of teeth
  • Age > 55 yr
  • History of snoring
Epidemiology:
  • Prevalence of difficult mask ventilation 0.66%, 94% of which were unanticipated. 50% of those patients also had difficult intubation (2).
Measurements: =>2 criteria indicate a high likelihood of difficult mask ventilation (1).

References:
  1. Prediction of difficult mask ventilation. Anesthesiology. 2000;92:1229-1236: pdf.
  2. A. K. Nørskov et al. Diagnostic accuracy of anesthesiologists' prediction of difficult airway management in daily clinical practice: a cohort study of 188064 patients registered in the Danish Anaesthesia Database. Anaesthesia. 2015;70(3): 272-281: full text | pdf.