Keywords
Intubation
Airway
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the use of ultrasound as an auxiliary tool for the early identification of difficult airways in the Anesthesiology Department, aiming to improve safety and effectiveness in anesthetic management. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, and comparative study conducted with patients undergoing general anesthesia and orotracheal intubation, using clinical methods and ultrasonographic assessment. Results: A total of 40 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 47.88±17.38 years, mostly female (55.0%) and classified as ASA II (40.0%) or ASA III (30.0%). According to the Mallampati classification, 45.0% were Class II, and in the Cormack-Lehane scale, 60.0% were Grade 1. The incidence of difficult intubation was 18.0%, with most patients showing a skin-to-epiglottis distance below 2.5 cm (82.0%). The bougie was the most frequently used auxiliary device (15.0%), and a significant association was observed between skin-to-epiglottis distance, sex, Mallampati and Cormack-Lehane classifications, and difficult intubation (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound proved effective in the early detection of difficult airways, contributing to greater safety and accuracy in anesthetic management.
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