Evaluation of the effect of prone position on the modified Mallampati class in adult patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery

Perioperative airway changes due to anaesthesia and surgery could change a normal airway at induction to a risky airway at extubation. Complications such as oropharyngeal swelling, due to macroglossia, sublingual haematoma and salivary gland inflammation, may occur during prolonged surgery in the prone position, more so if the head and neck position is non-neutral. Airway changes may occur due to prone surgical positioning. there is paucity of literature on the changes in modified Mallampati class in adult patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery in prone position. We hypothesise that modified Mallampati class changes in adult patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery in prone position. The purpose of our study is to evaluate changes in modified Mallampati class in 35 adult patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery in prone position.