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MACOCHA score for difficult ICU intubation
Predicts difficult intubation in critically ill patients.
MACOCHA score for difficult ICU intubation
Mallampati class III or IV
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
Reduced cervical spine mobility
Limited mouth opening (<3 cm)
Coma
Severe hypoxaemia (SpO2 <80%)
Operator not an anaesthesiologist
Result0 points
Lower predicted risk of difficult intubation, though ICU intubation always warrants preparation.
- MACOCHA score
- 0 of 12
When to use
- Anticipating difficult intubation before airway management in the ICU.
Formula
Mallampati III/IV (5), OSA (2), reduced cervical mobility (1), mouth opening <3 cm (1), coma (1), severe hypoxaemia (1), non-anaesthesiologist operator (1). Range 0-12; >=3 flags difficulty.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Derived and validated specifically in critically ill (not elective operating-room) patients.
- High negative predictive value: a low score is reassuring.