The Cardiovascular
ToolsCalculators

Modified Mallampati classification

Oropharyngeal view grading used to anticipate intubation difficulty.

Modified Mallampati classification
Class observed (mouth fully open, tongue protruding, patient seated upright, phonating)
Complete the fields above to see the result.

When to use

  • Rapid bedside oropharyngeal grading as one component of a broader preoperative airway assessment (used alongside mouth opening, neck mobility, thyromental distance, etc.).

Formula

Classification (not a summed score): grade I-IV by structures visible on maximal mouth opening with tongue protrusion.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Predictive value is modest in isolation; it performs better combined with other airway predictors (e.g. thyromental distance, neck movement) as in composite indices.
  • Inter-observer variability is a recognised limitation.

References

  1. Mallampati SR, et al. Can Anaesth Soc J. 1985;32(4):429-434.
  2. Samsoon GL, Young JR. Anaesthesia. 1987;42(5):487-490.