A feasibility study of jaw thrust as an indicator assessing adequate depth of anesthesia for insertion of supraglottic airway device in morbidly obese patients

BACKGROUND: Jaw thrust has been proven as a useful test determining adequate depth of anesthesia for successful insertion of supraglottic airway device (SAD) in normal adults and children receiving intra-venous or inhalational anesthesia induction. This prospective observational study aimed to determine the feasibility and validity of this test when using as an indicator assessing adequate depth of anesthesia for successful insertion of SAD in spontaneously breathing morbidly obese patients receiving sevoflurane inhalational induction. METHODS: Thirty morbidly obese patients with a body mass index 40 to 73 kg/m(2) undergoing bariatric surgery in Beijing Friendship Hospital from October 2018 to January 2019 were included in this study. After adequate pre-oxygenation, 5% sevoflurane was inhaled and inhalational concentration of sevoflurane was increased by 1% every 2 min. After motor responses to jaw thrust disappeared, a SAD was inserted and insertion conditions were graded. The anatomic position of SAD was assessed using a fiberoptic bronchoscope. RESULTS: The SAD was successfully inserted at the first attempt in all patients. Insertion conditions of SAD were excellent in nine patients (30%) and good in 21 patients (70%), respectively. The fiberoptic views of SAD position were adequate in 28 patients (93%). CONCLUSIONS: Jaw thrust test is a reliable indicator determining adequate anesthesia depth of sevoflurane inhalational induction for successful insertion of SAD in spontaneously breathing morbidly obese patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1800016868; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=28646.