The West Haven Criteria grade hepatic encephalopathy from Grade 0 (minimal/none) to Grade IV (coma). Grade I: mild confusion, sleepy; Grade II: lethargy, disorientation, asterixis; Grade III: somnolent, gross disorientation; Grade IV: unrousable coma. Anaesthesia trainees use this to guide airway management, drug selection, and postoperative ICU planning in patients with liver disease.
The MELD Score predicts mortality in chronic liver disease using bilirubin, INR, and creatinine (MELD-Na adds sodium; MELD 3.0 adds albumin and sex adjustment). Scores range 6-40; higher scores indicate greater mortality risk. Anaesthesia trainees use it for perioperative risk stratification, drug dosing, monitoring intensity, and ICU planning in patients with cirrhosis.
The Child-Pugh Score assesses chronic liver disease severity using ascites, encephalopathy, bilirubin, albumin, and INR. Scores 5-6 (Class A, low risk), 7-9 (Class B, moderate), 10-15 (Class C, high risk). Anaesthesia trainees use it to guide drug dosing, fluid management, coagulopathy correction, monitoring, and postoperative destination in patients with cirrhosis.
The Fisher Scale grades subarachnoid haemorrhage on CT to predict vasospasm risk: Grade 0 (no blood), Grade 1 (thin SAH), Grade 2 (thin SAH + IVH), Grade 3 (thick SAH), Grade 4 (thick SAH + IVH). Modified Fisher Scale is preferred. Anaesthesia trainees use it to guide monitoring, vasospasm surveillance, and ICU triage.
The WFNS Scale grades subarachnoid haemorrhage using GCS (3-15) and motor deficit presence. Grade I (GCS 15, no deficit) to Grade V (GCS 3-6). It offers superior objectivity and prognostic accuracy over Hunt & Hess. Anaesthesia trainees use it to guide airway planning, monitoring intensity, and postoperative ICU destination in neurocritical care.
The Hunt & Hess Scale grades subarachnoid haemorrhage severity from Grade I (mild headache) to Grade V (deep coma). Grades III-V carry higher mortality and require urgent intervention. Anaesthesia trainees must use this scale alongside GCS and pupillary assessment to guide perioperative management, monitoring intensity, and postoperative destination in neurocritical care.
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses consciousness through Eye opening (1-4), Verbal response (1-5), and Motor response (1-6). Total score ranges from 3 (deep coma) to 15 (fully alert). Components must be recorded individually (E4V5M6). Score ≤8 suggests coma and may indicate airway protection needs for anaesthesia trainees.
The Cormack-Lehane grading system classifies laryngeal view during direct laryngoscopy: Grade I (full glottis view), Grade II (partial view, subdivided into IIa and IIb), Grade III (only epiglottis visible), and Grade IV (no laryngeal structures visible). It guides real-time intubation decisions and future anaesthetic planning for trainees.
The LEMON mnemonic guides systematic airway assessment: Look externally for difficult airway features; Evaluate 3-3-2 (mouth opening, thyromental distance, hyoid-mental distance); Mallampati score; Obstruction or obesity; and Neck mobility. It provides rapid, structured evaluation for anaesthesia trainees, though no assessment predicts all difficult airways.
The Mallampati score classifies oropharyngeal visibility to predict intubation difficulty. Classes range from I (full view of pillars, uvula, and soft palate) to IV (only hard palate visible). Perform with patient seated, tongue protruded, without phonation. Use alongside other airway assessments—never alone.