This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rosenblatt, W. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rosenblatt, W. H.

---

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Interesting Anecdotes Cannot Validate Test Results

Department of Anesthesiology; Yale University School of Medicine; New Haven, CT; will.rosenblatt{at}yale.edu

To the Editor:

Kahn et al.1 assert that the upper lip bite test, in combination with excellent neck extension, allowed them to predict an "easy" tracheal intubation in a patient with Cushing's and Nelson's Syndromes, despite a high Mallampati score. The authors agree that the Mallampati classification is a nonsensitive test, that other findings, such as an interincisor gap of 4 cm, predicts difficult direct laryngoscopy, but they do not provide evidence in support of these assertions. In addition, data that the group cites regarding obesity and difficult tracheal intubation have been more recently disputed. While I don't wish to diminish the interesting nature of the case report, I believe that it is not appropriate to use the anecdotal evidence of a single case to defend academic findings.

REFERENCE

1. Khan ZH, Gharabaghian M, Ferozeh N, Ghiamat M, Mohammadi M. Easy endotracheal intubation of a patient suffering from both Cushing's and Nelson's Syndromes predicted by the upper lip bite test despite a Mallampati class 4 airway. Anesth Analg 2007;105:786–7[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Z. H. Khan The Upper Lip Bite Test to Predict Difficult Intubation Anesth. Analg., February 1, 2008; 106(2): 669 - 669. [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rosenblatt, W. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rosenblatt, W. H.