The effects of dynamic airway photographs on preoperative airway planning among a panel of anesthetists.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine whether having preoperative airway photographs will change the preanesthetic airway plan.

DESIGN

Questionnaire.

SETTING

American academic medical center (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston MA).

SUBJECTS

Twenty-five test subjects (American Society of Anesthesiologists 1-4) were enrolled to have their preoperative airway photographs taken as well as to have a customary preoperative history and physical examination. In addition, 15 anesthetists were enrolled to review the subjects' preoperative history, physical examination, and preoperative airway photographs.

MEASUREMENTS

All 15 anesthetists were asked to fill out a survey for airway management for each test subject.

MAIN RESULTS

All 15 anesthetists completed the survey. Across all providers, plans were changed a median of 24% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7-38.6). Among attending anesthesiologists, airway management plans were changed 30% of the time (95% CI, 12.4-40.0), whereas among nonattending level providers, plans changed 24% of the time (95% CI, 12.0-38.8). χ Tests found no difference between the percent change of airway plans between attending and nonattending level providers (P=.306).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the addition of dynamic airway photographs to preoperative airway reports affects airway management plans among a variety of anesthesia care providers. In general, dynamic airway photographs can aid preoperative airway management planning.