This observational study (OB-DIFF-AIRWAY: Obstetric Difficult Airway Study) aimed to evaluate the accuracy of commonly used preoperative airway assessment tests in predicting difficult airway management in obstetric patients undergoing cesarean section. Difficult airway remained a significant cause of anesthesia-related complications, particularly in pregnant patients due to physiological and anatomical changes.
Adult pregnant women scheduled for elective or urgent cesarean section underwent standard preoperative airway assessment, including Mallampati classification, thyromental distance, interincisor distance, neck circumference, and other routine clinical evaluations. Airway management during anesthesia was performed according to standard clinical practice. No additional intervention was applied for the purpose of the study.
The relationship between preoperative airway assessment findings and actual airway management difficulty was analyzed. The results of this study may help improve preoperative airway evaluation strategies and enhance patient safety in obstetric anesthesia.