Assessment of upper airway deformation in maxillofacial abscess patients with trismus: A modified classification based on the midline encroachment sign
Main Article Content
Abstract
Assessment of upper airway deformation is a crucial step in predicting difficult intubation in patients with maxillofacial abscesses. This study aimed to evaluate the severity of upper airway deformation using a modified three-grade classification based on the midline encroachment sign on computed tomography (CT) in maxillofacial abscess patients with trismus. A prospective analytical cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 102 patients with a maximum mouth opening of less than 20 mm. Airway deformation was classified into three grades: no deformation, deformation without midline encroachment and deformation with midline encroachment. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation and ordinal logistic regression. The results showed that the prevalence of upper airway deformation was 74.51%, with 46.08% exhibiting midline encroachment. The severity of deformation was not associated with the number of anatomical spaces involved in the abscess but was strongly correlated with maximum mouth opening (β = -0.222; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The modified three-grade classification of upper airway deformation is a simple tool with the potential for speedy assessment of airway status in patients with maxillofacial abscesses.
Article Details
Keywords
Upper airway deformation, midline encroachment, maxillofacial abscess, trismus
References
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