Utility of the modified Mallampati grade and Friedman tongue position in the assessment of obstructive sleep apnea

摘要

The modified Mallampati (MM) grade and Friedman tongue position (FTP) are commonly used scales that assess the oropharynx during evaluation for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Though used by many practitioners, there is controversy in the literature regarding their practical utility. The goal of this review will be to review the history of how the MM and FTP were developed, to discuss current evidence for their usefulness in the workup of OSA, and to provide future direction to better understand their utility in the workup of OSA.