Postoperative alterations in ultrasonographic evaluation of airway parameters after robotic prostatectomy: A prospective case-control study.

To evaluate pre/postoperative airway structures of patients undergoing robotic prostatectomy with ultrasound. The thyromental distance, ratio of height to thyromental distance were recorded. The pre/postoperative anterior neck soft tissue thickness at the level of the vocal cords, anterior neck soft tissue thickness (ANST) at the level of the hyoid, hyomental distance (HMD) in head hyperextension position, hyomental distance head in neutral position, tongue thickness (TT), depth of the pre-epiglottic space were recorded. ANST1, HMD2, and TT demonstrated significant changes in the first postoperative hour compared with baseline (p < 0.05), with most parameters returning toward preoperative values by 24 h. ANST1 was negatively correlated with Trendelenburg time; HMD2 was positively correlated with Mallampati score and neck circumference, and negatively correlated with thyromental distance, and TT was negatively correlated with Trendelenburg time. Robotic prostatectomy caused distinct early postoperative airway tissue changes on ultrasound, linked to Trendelenburg duration and baseline airway predictors. These findings support the potential value of postoperative ultrasound for identifying patients at increased airway risk.