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Background and objectiveMany tests are at hand to predict difficult intubation preoperatively to prevent morbidity and mortality of unanticipated difficult intubation. The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy of the modified Mallampati test (MMT) and upper lip bite test (ULBT) to foresee difficult intubation. Materials and methodsAfter obtaining written informed consent, this prospective comparative observational study was conducted on 225 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general endotracheal anesthesia. Preoperative MMT and ULBT were performed. MMT Grade III, IV, and ULBT Grade IV were regarded as predictors of difficult intubation. The laryngoscopic view was graded as per Cormack and Lehane's laryngoscopic grading after induction of anesthesia by an experienced anesthesiologist ignorant of preoperative airway evaluation. Patients with Cormack and Lehane Class III and IV were regarded as difficult intubation. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MMT and ULBT were computed. Agreement between two tests with the Cormack Lehane test was determined by the Kappa coefficient. ResultsIn our research, the occurrence of difficult intubation was found to be 10.2% (23 cases of difficult intubation out of 225 patients). In our analysis, we found the sensitivity (95.5% vs. 95.4%), specificity (54.8% vs 50.0%), positive predictive value (91.6% vs 93.1%), and negative predictive value (39.1% vs 39.1%) were almost comparable between modified Mallampati test and upper lip bite test. Kappa coefficient for the upper lip bite test (0.492) was slightly higher as compared to modified Mallampati scoring (0.454), but both the values are highly statistically significant (p-value <0.001). ConclusionBoth the upper lip bite test and modified Mallampati test are comparable with each other and since the upper lip bite test is easy to perform bedside test we recommend it to be used alone or in collaboration with other tests in assessing difficult airways.

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine as a premedicant on dose requirement of induction agents, thiopentone and propofol in patients undergoing various surgeries under general endotracheal anesthesia under the bispectral index (BIS) guidance. Methods:A double-blinded randomized controlled study was conducted during the year 2014-2015 among 120 patients aged 18-55 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status Score I or II and Mallampati Grades I and II. After obtaining informed consent, all the eligible patients were randomly assigned to one of the four groups each containing 30 patients: Group SP (control group) -saline infusion before induction with propofol, group DP -dexmedetomidine infusion before induction with propofol, group ST (control group) -saline infusion before induction with thiopentone, and group DT -dexmedetomidine infusion before induction with thiopentone. Results:The mean dose of propofol required was 95.0±6.15 mg and 55.0±7.0 mg in group SP and DP, respectively, whereas the requirement of thiopentone was 6.6±0.93 mg/kg in group ST as opposed to 4.8±0.58 mg/kg in group DT. The decrease in the dose requirement in dexmedetomidine groups than the control groups was statistically significant and also dose reduction in dexmedetomidine was more in DP group compared to that in DT group (p<0.001). Conclusion:Dexmedetomidine as a preanesthetic medication significantly decreases intraoperative anesthetic requirement of thiopentone and propofol, and dose requirement is significantly less in case of propofol as compared to thiopentone.