Airway and Ventilation

Question 1

Factors that indicate difficult airway

Answer 1

LEMON

L-Look externally for factors known for difficult intubation
-Small mouth or jaw, large overbite or facial trauma

E - Evaluate 3-3-2 rule
At least 3 finger breadth between incisor teeth and between hyoid bone and chin.
At least 2 finger breadth between thyroid notch and floor of mouth

M-mallampati

O - Obstruction. Any condition causing obstruction will make laryngoscopy and ventilation difficult.

N- Neck mobility
If non traumatic injury ask patient to flex/extend neck. If trauma, has c-spine restriction and therefore more difficult to intubate