Preoperative Airway Assessment and Difficult Tracheal Intubation

THE STUDY

About this study

This retrospective observational study examined the association between preoperative airway assessment findings and difficulty placing a breathing tube during general anesthesia. Existing records of 812 adults at Bursa City Hospital were analyzed, including 759 patients with anticipated and 53 with unanticipated airway difficulty. The primary outcome was the need for more than one intubation attempt. No additional procedures were performed for research purposes.

Full official title

Preoperative Airway Assessment Findings Associated With Difficult Tracheal Intubation and Characteristics of Unanticipated Difficult Airway: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Detailed description

Anesthesia records from operations performed between May 2024 and March 2026 were reviewed retrospectively. Seven routinely documented bedside airway assessment findings were evaluated. Associations with difficult intubation, difficult laryngoscopy, Cormack-Lehane grade III-IV, and difficult mask ventilation were analyzed in the anticipated-difficult-airway group, with adjustment for age and sex. Patients with unanticipated airway difficulty were described separately.

PARTICIPATION

Who may participate

Minimum age: 18 Years
Maximum age: Not reported
Sex eligibility: All sexes
Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Only the study team can confirm eligibility. The registry criteria below are not a medical recommendation.

Full inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 years or older.
* General anesthesia with endotracheal intubation at Bursa City Hospital between May 2024 and March 2026.
* Documented anticipated difficult airway before surgery or unanticipated difficult airway during intraoperative airway management.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients managed exclusively with regional anesthesia without tracheal intubation.
* Patients managed with a laryngeal mask airway instead of endotracheal intubation.

Study population

Adults undergoing general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation at Bursa City Hospital between May 2024 and March 2026. From a source population of 29,814 intubated adults, the analyzed cohort included 759 patients with anticipated difficult airway and 53 with unanticipated difficult airway, totaling 812 patients.

NEAR YOU

Study locations worldwide

1 site

Check the individual site’s status and contact the listed study team for current availability.

Bursa City Hospital

Not reported

Nilufer, Bursa, 16110, Turkey (Türkiye)

Contact details are not published in this record. Check official study record ↗

WHAT IS BEING STUDIED

Treatments and study groups

Study groups

Anticipated Difficult AirwayNot reported

Adults with clinician-documented anticipated difficult airway at preoperative assessment who underwent general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation (n=759).

Unanticipated Difficult AirwayNot reported

Adults without documented preoperative suspicion of difficult airway who experienced clinician-documented airway difficulty during general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation (n=53).

RESEARCH DETAILS

Study design

Study type: Observational
Phase: Not reported
Primary purpose: Not reported
Allocation: Not reported
Study model: Cohort
Masking: Not reported
Enrolment: 812 participants · Actual
Time perspective: Retrospective

TIMELINE & MEASURES

Dates and outcomes

Study started: 25 Feb 2026 · Actual
Primary completion: 31 May 2026 · Actual
Study completion: 31 May 2026 · Actual
First registered: 19 Oct 2026 · Actual
Last registry update: 19 Oct 2026 · Actual
Status last verified: Oct 2026

Primary outcomes (1)

Difficult Tracheal Intubation

Proportion of patients requiring more than one tracheal intubation attempt, as documented in anesthesia records.

Time frame: During airway management for the index surgery (day 0).

Secondary outcomes (3)

Difficult Laryngoscopy

Proportion of patients with clinician-documented difficulty during direct or video laryngoscopy.

Time frame: During laryngoscopy for the index surgery (day 0).

Cormack-Lehane Grade III or IV

Proportion of patients with a documented Cormack-Lehane grade III or IV laryngoscopic view.

Time frame: During laryngoscopy for the index surgery (day 0).

Difficult Mask Ventilation

Proportion of patients with clinician-documented difficulty providing adequate face-mask ventilation.

Time frame: During anesthesia induction for the index surgery (day 0).

STUDY TEAM

Sponsor and contacts

Lead sponsor: Bursa City Hospital
Sponsor type: Other gov
Collaborators: Ulusoy, Emre, M.D.
Organisation study ID: bsh0002

Central study contacts

No central contact is currently reported. Check the site contacts or the official record.

Contacts are provided by the registry for study enquiries. Do not use these details for marketing or promotions.

Results, documents and references

No results are posted in this registry record

This does not mean the study has no findings. Results may not yet have been submitted or published here.

No study documents are listed in this record.