Anthropometric and US-Guided Difficult Intubation Prediction With ML Models

Duzce University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Artificial Intelligence; Difficult Endotracheal Intubation

Treatments: Other: Distance from jawbone to hyoid bone with neck in extension; Other: Distance between skin and epiglottis; Other: Distance between skin and anterior commissure of vocal cord:; Other: Thyromental distance; Other: Maximum Tongue Thickness; Other: Mouth opening distance; Other: Neck circumference; Other: Distance between skin and trachea; Other: Distance between skin and hyoid bone; Other: Distance from jawbone to hyoid bone with neck in neutral position

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06904586

2022/65

Details and patient eligibility

About

The assessment and management of difficult airway is of critical importance. Unsuccessful airway management leads to serious mortality and morbidity. From the beginning of the pre-anesthesia examination, 3% to 13% of patients who are considered suitable for routine airway management may be difficult to intubate. Airway assessment issues include risk assessment and airway examination (bedside and forward) to estimate the risk of difficult airway or aspiration. Airway examination aims to determine the presence of upper airway pathologies or anatomical anomalies. Some physical characteristics are associated with difficult airways and unsuccessful intubation. Examples of these are; limited neck movement, snoring, short sternomental distance, neck circumference thickness, etc. Physical characteristics can be measured with a meter or more detailed upper airway ultrasonographic measurements. In this study, researchers aimed to evaluate the anthropometric and ultrasonographic measurement values of patients who underwent preoperative airway assessment and to see the predictability of difficult intubation with artificial intelligence-supported decision support programs.

Full description

Difficult intubation, particularly unpredictable difficult intubation, is a challenging scenario for every anesthesiologist. Patients who are initially assessed as suitable for routine airway management may present as difficult to intubate in 5% to 22% of cases. Accurate evaluation and management of difficult airways are crucial, as failure in airway management can lead to serious morbidity and mortality.

Airway assessment helps identify predictable difficult airways, but it does not exclude patients with normal clinical evaluations who may still experience unpredictable difficult intubation. The primary goal of airway examination is to detect upper airway pathologies or anatomical anomalies. Several physical characteristics are associated with difficult airways and failed intubation, including limited neck mobility, snoring, a short sternomental distance, and increased neck circumference.

Common airway assessment tools, such as the Mallampati classification and the upper lip bite test, require patient cooperation, which limits their applicability in sedated, trauma, or unresponsive patients. The Cormack-Lehane classification, used during direct laryngoscopy, is invasive and does not allow for pre-procedural preparation. In this context, non-invasive, bedside, rapid, and accessible ultrasonographic assessments and anthropometric measurements have gained importance in predicting difficult airways.

With technological advancements, decision-support systems and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted applications are increasingly used to prevent adverse outcomes. Successful airway management is particularly critical in high-risk patients, where rapid decision-making is essential. Easily accessible, bedside, non-invasive ultrasonographic measurements, integrated with AI-based learning programs, have the potential to predict difficult intubation in advance. This enables early preparation, timely interventions, and the reduction of life-threatening risks.

In this study, researchers aimed to predict difficult intubation preoperatively using non-invasive anthropometric and ultrasonographic upper airway measurements, combined with AI-assisted decision-support programs, without requiring any invasive procedures.

Our hypothesis is that preoperative airway assessment through anthropometric and ultrasonographic measurements, supported by AI-based decision-support programs, can accurately predict difficult intubation and facilitate early preparation

Enrollment: 329 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients over 18 years of age
• Patients who will undergo general anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant women
• Those with congenital and/or acquired facial deformities
• Patients who have previously undergone upper neck airway surgery
• Patients with head and neck tumors
• Patients who will undergo thyroidectomy

Trial design

329 participants in 1 patient group

Patients between the ages of 18 and 20 who will receive general anesthesia

Description:

ASA I-III patients over the age of 18 who meet the inclusion criteria to undergo general anesthesia

Treatment:

Other: Distance from jawbone to hyoid bone with neck in neutral position

Other: Distance between skin and hyoid bone

Other: Distance between skin and trachea

Other: Neck circumference

Other: Mouth opening distance

Other: Maximum Tongue Thickness

Other: Thyromental distance

Other: Distance between skin and anterior commissure of vocal cord:

Other: Distance between skin and epiglottis

Other: Distance from jawbone to hyoid bone with neck in extension