SummaryChanges in airway dimensions can occur during general anaesthesia and surgery for a variety of reasons. This study explored factors associated with postoperative changes in airway dimensions. Patient airway volume was measured by acoustic reflectometory and neck muscle diameter by ultrasound echography in the pre-and post-anaesthetic periods in a total of 281 patients. Neck circumference was also assessed during these periods. A significant decrease in median (IQR [range]) total airway volume (from 63.8 (51.8-75.7 [14.7-103] . The intra-oral space can significantly decrease and neck thickness increase after general anaesthesia, and might increase the risk of difficult laryngoscopy and intubation if airway management is required after extubation following general anaesthesia.

We believe that concomitant attacks of labor and delivery and fluid resuscitation probably worsened upper airway and neck edema enough to cause acute airway obstruction and difficult laryngoscopy.

We believe that concomitant attacks of labor and delivery and fluid resuscitation probably worsened upper airway and neck edema enough to cause acute airway obstruction and difficult laryngoscopy.

No abstract