why did the anaesthetist ask me to do this in my pre-op assessment?

Question

tilt my head and look up at the ceiling
open my mouth wide
put my botton teeth in front of my top teeth?????
(i had surgery to my eye)

i've had a few operations in the past few years and this is the first time they have asked me to do this-strange hey?

Answer 1

He/she was evaluating you to determine if you would have problems which might require alterations from normal intubation techniques. It also helps them know what size/type of blade to put on the laryngoscope which they use to guide the endotracheal tube into your throat. SInce most eye surgery is done under local anesthesia with sedation, I would assume, these preperations were as a precaution and not for the intention of actual intubation and general anesthesia

Answer 2

The anaesthetish wanted to assess the ease with which he could intubate you if there was a problem with your breathing.

He was assessing you using the american society of anaesthetist guidelines. If he can see the uvula (the thing dangling at the back of your throat) thats a good sign. If your bottom teeth protrude beyond your top teeth this is a bad sign.

If the distance from your adam's apple to your chin is less than 7 cm this is a bad sign too.

Answer 3

When you are anaesthetised you will then be intubated, that means that various tubes are inserted into your throat. The anaesthetist need to see how your jaw and throat aligns so he asks you to tilt your head and put your bottom teeth in front of your top teeth, it is normal procedure.

Answer 4

In case you stop breathing you wont pose any special problems for intubation.

Answer 5

neurological assessment. wants to make sure your wiring is ok before he takes over your breathing for you

Answer 6

He was probably checking your teeth.