We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the Mallampati Score?

By W. Joyner
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 32,272
Share

The Mallampati score, also referred to as the Mallampati classification, is a medical scoring system used in anesthesiology to determine the potential level of difficulty, and subsequent risk, in intubating a patient undergoing surgery. The score determines a rating for the patient, ranging from Class I to Class IV. A Class I rating indicates a patient who should prove relatively easy to intubate. The highest rating, Class IV, is assigned to patients with a higher risk of complications.

Intubation is necessary during anesthesia in order to provide a means of breathing artificially while the patient is anesthetized and unable to breathe on his or her own. During intubation, a tube is inserted through the throat into the airways. The tube can then be connected to either a mask or an artificial ventilator in order to provide the patient with oxygen during the procedure.

Mallampati classification is determined by visual observation of the oral cavity. The test to establish the Mallampati score is performed with the patient in an upright sitting posture, with the head held in a neutral position. As the patient holds his or her mouth open wide and extends the tongue, the technician checks for clear visibility of pharyngeal structures.

A Class I Mallampati score is given if the soft palate, tonsils, anterior and posterior pillars, and the entire uvula — the piece of soft tissue that hangs down from the roof of the mouth near the back of the tongue — are easily visible. A Class II score is given if the soft palate, tonsils, and most of the uvula can be seen. In cases where only the soft palate and the base of the uvula are visible, the patient is assigned a Class III rating. A Class IV Mallampati score is reserved for those instances where no soft palate is visible at all. Patients who have a Class III or Class IV result are likely to be difficult to intubate, and other preparations should be made for alternative airway management, such as use of a bag mask respirator.

Gauging the potential difficulty of intubation with a patient is an important step in the anesthesia process. The Mallampati score is often used in conjunction with other tests, such as the thyromental distance, a measurement extending from the highest point of the thyroid cartilage to the chin. Measuring the neck extension at the atlanto-occipital joint, the point where the skull adjoins to the spine, is also useful. Considering the Mallampati results in combination with additional evaluations results in a more comprehensive assessment and serves to enhance the safety of the patient.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-the-mallampati-score.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.