El-Ganzouri Airway Risk Index
Score all 7 El-Ganzouri parameters to predict difficult laryngoscopy; a total score ≥4 indicates high risk.
Use the El-Ganzouri Airway Risk Index
Airway Parameters
Select the best-matching criterion for each parameter.
Risk Score Result
Select all parameters and click
Calculate Risk Score
Breakdown
For clinical reference only. Always apply full airway assessment and institutional protocols.
Summary
The El-Ganzouri Airway Risk Index is a validated scoring system that combines seven clinical predictors — mouth opening, thyromental distance, Mallampati class, neck movement, ability to prognath, body weight, and prior intubation history — to estimate the likelihood of difficult laryngoscopy. A total score of 4 or higher (out of a maximum of 12) identifies patients at high risk who warrant awake fiber-optic intubation or other advanced airway strategies.
How it works
- Assess each of the 7 clinical parameters on the patient prior to induction.
- Select the appropriate score value for each parameter using the provided criteria.
- The calculator sums all parameter scores into a total El-Ganzouri Risk Index.
- A total score of 0–3 indicates low risk; 4–12 indicates high risk for difficult laryngoscopy.
- Use the result alongside your full clinical judgment and institutional airway protocols.
- Document the score in the pre-anesthetic assessment for the procedural record.
Use cases
- Pre-operative airway assessment before general anesthesia.
- Deciding whether to proceed with standard vs. awake fiber-optic intubation.
- Anesthesia resident education on structured airway evaluation.
- Rapid bedside scoring in the pre-op holding area.
- Documenting airway risk for medico-legal and quality purposes.
- Teaching the multi-parameter approach to difficult airway prediction.