Evaluation of changes in mallampati class in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy surgeries in the prone position: A prospective observational study

MMP scores increase by at least 1 class in most of the patients after pcnl surgery in the prone position. Change in MMP class reverts back to preoperative state by 24 h in 92.4% patients and is not persistent in majority of patients at 48 h postoperatively. The degree of airway changes is unaffected by the duration of the surgery, amount of IV fluids and irrigation fluids used. Such deterioration of MMP scores in the postoperative period increases the risk of confronting difficult re -intubation, particularly in the presence of other pre-existing factors for difficult airway.