Evaluation of the STOP-BANG SCORE as a screening tool to predict the difficult airway

Background: The STOP-BANG (SB) questionnaire is a validated screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea screening and may also serve as a predictor of difficult airway management. However, existing evidence linking SB scores to airway difficulty remains limited and inconsistent. This study addresses this gap by assessing the usefulness of the SB score as a simple, non-invasive preoperative predictor of difficult airway management. Method: A qualitative observational study was conducted involving 250 patients aged 25–65 years (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status I–III) undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Each patient’s SB score was recorded preoperatively. Patients were then divided into two groups: Group I (SB score