Functional features of anatomical structures affecting the process of endotracheal intubation

The study of the morphofunctional features of various structures of the head and the neck, as well as their congenital and acquired changes, enables a better understanding of conditions that influence performance of endotracheal intubation. Knowledge of the patient’s individual anatomy enables one to forecast and to minimize incidence of intubation failure that might lead to adverse consequences, including dental trauma, damage to respiratory tract, hypoxic brain damage, and even death. As early as on the stage of collecting the patient’s history, the anesthesiologist has to anticipate possible complications and identify the factors that might lead to complicated intubation and provision of anesthetic support. This study analyzes the functional peculiarities of the anatomical structures influencing the process of endotracheal intubation, that are considered in the scales for the assessment of difficult airways and that cause complications for the visibility of the glottis. The article also dwells on various diseases that could cause difficult intubation of the trachea. The generalized results of these studies may be instrumental in the development of new methods and approaches towards the tracheal intubation procedure.