Patient selection: Robin sequence requiring mandibular distraction osteogenesis
Analysis: craniofacial CT
Key measurement: cross-sectional area of the airway at the tip of the epiglottis
If this area is > 36.97 square mm, then difficult intubation is more likely.
If the area is <= 36.97 square mm, then intubation is not difficult.
Performance: The area under the ROC curve was 0.81.
Other findings in the difficult to intubation group:
(1) shorter distance between the root of the tongue and the posterior pharyngeal wall
(2) shallower mandibular angle
(3) smaller cross-sectional area of the tip of the epiglottis
