Oropharyngeal examination (OPE) Flashcards
Why do we examine and evaluate a patient’s airway preoperatively?
- Do no harm during subsequent airway management.
- Determine airway-related risks in order to discuss them with the patient, document them in the patient’s chart and avoid risk-related problems.
- Obtain information needed for bag-and-mask ventilation.
- Obtain information needed for LMA insertion and management.
- Obtain information needed for endotracheal intubation via DL.
what will prevent an adequate DL?
abnormal opening of the mouth
disease process in the mouth (i.e. tumor, inflamation)
large tongue
head position
height of table
what is the distance called for the mouth opening?
interincisor distance
When evaluating/assessing mouth opening limitations, what would you want to know about the etiology of limitation?
pain on opening
vs
mechanical disorder
what types of etiologies could attribute to pain or mechanical limitations
rheumatoid arthritis
ankylosing spondylitis,
DJD (degenerative joint diseases)
what interincisor distance could indicate a TMJ dysfunction
opening < 3 cm
what interincisor distance precludes (prevents) a normal DL
opening < 2.5 cm
Identify the number structures
- palatopharyngeal arch
- palatine tonsils
- palatoglossal arch
what interincisor distance limits the use of laryngoscopic equipment
opening < 2 cm
Other than the pharynges, what structures should be considered when examining the mouth?
- tongue (size, disease, past surgery)
- floor of mouth
- oral mucosa
- roof of mouth
Rather than using Malampati scoring, how should you document the oropharnyx exam?
faucial pillars are synonymous for what oropharyngeal structures?
the palatoglossal arch and the palatopharyngeal arch
What abnormality is this?
torus
What is the term for
a blood vessel that is visibly distended with blood?
injected
(i.e. an injected oropharynx)
which of the 2 oropharynx arches is more anterior
palatoglossal arch
