Mallampati score
In
Technique
The score is assessed by asking the patient, in a sitting posture, to open their mouth and to protrude the tongue as much as possible.
Modified Mallampati Scoring:[3]
- Class I: Soft palate, uvula, fauces, pillars visible.
- Class II: Soft palate, major part of uvula, fauces visible.
- Class III: Soft palate, base of uvula visible.
- Class IV: Only hard palate visible.
Original Mallampati Scoring:[1]
- Class 1: Faucial pillars, soft palate and uvula could be visualized.
- Class 2: Faucial pillars and soft palate could be visualized, but uvula was masked by the base of the tongue.
- Class 3: Only soft palate visualized.
Further research may be needed to determine the most effective consistent and predictive approach on which to standardize Mallampati Scoring.
Clinical significance
While Mallampati classes I and II are associated with relatively easy intubation, classes III and IV are associated with increased difficulty.
A systematic review of 42 studies, with 34,513 participants, found that the modified Mallampati score is a good predictor of difficult direct laryngoscopy and intubation, but poor at predicting difficult bag mask ventilation.[4][5] Therefore, the study concluded that while useful in combination with other tests to predict the difficulty of an airway, it is not sufficiently accurate alone.
See also
- Cormack-Lehane classification system
- Simplified Airway Risk Index
- Thyromental distance
References
External links
- Mallampati score - fpnotebook.com