DOI: 10.21276/sasjs.2019.5.7.6

Pages: 295-297

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of upper lip bite test (ULBT) of difficult airway for endotracheal intubation in north Indian population. Methods: This was a prospective blinded study conducted in 249 patients. The demographic data was collected from patient’s attendant. Patients were evaluated for ULBT before surgery. An experienced anesthesiologist, not aware of the recorded pre-operative airway evaluation, performed the laryngoscopy and grading as per Cormack and Lehane’s classification. Results: Among study population, ULBT score 1 was among more than half of patients (69.1%). The prevalence of difficult airway for endotracheal intubation was 17.7%. Cormack Lehane score 1 was among more than half of patients (59.8%). The diagnostic value of ULBT was significant (AUC=0.887, Z=11.53, p<0.001) but had high sensitivity 72.73% (95% CI=57.2-85.0) and high specificity 95.61% (95% CI=91.8-98.0). The positive likelihood ratio (+LR), negative likelihood ratio (-LR), positive predictive value (+PV) and negative predictive value (-PV) were found to be 16.57%, 0.29%, 78.0% and 94.2%, respectively. Conclusion: ULBT is a highly sensitive, specific, with high positive and negative predictive value