Utility of Bedside Ultrasound in the Prediction of Difficult Airway

The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of bedside ultrasound to predict difficult airway in patients requiring emergency intubation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Laryngoscopy

Detailed Description

A variety of pre-intubation clinical screening tests have been advocated to predict difficult laryngoscopy, but their usefulness is limited in emergency department, intensive care unit, pre-hospital and combat settings. Patients in these settings are often confused, lethargic, obtunded, uncooperative and common screening tests for difficult laryngoscopy cannot be applied in a large number of emergency intubations. In the recent past, there has been growing interest in upper airway ultrasound. The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of bedside ultrasound to predict difficult airway in patients requiring emergency intubation.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 162

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nebraska
    • Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68198
      • University of Nebraska Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 19 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Pre-op patients

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients scheduled for any surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Upper airway pathologies (facial fractures, tumours, etc)
• Cervical spine fractures
• Tracheostomy tube
• unable to give consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Predictors of difficult laryngoscopy	one day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nebraska
• Collaborators: The Association for Medical Ultrasound
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Srikar R Adhikari, University of Nebraska

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ezri T, Gewurtz G, Sessler DI, Medalion B, Szmuk P, Hagberg C, Susmallian S. Prediction of difficult laryngoscopy in obese patients by ultrasound quantification of anterior neck soft tissue. Anaesthesia. 2003 Nov;58(11):1111-4. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.03412.x.
• Komatsu R, Sengupta P, Wadhwa A, Akca O, Sessler DI, Ezri T, Lenhardt R. Ultrasound quantification of anterior soft tissue thickness fails to predict difficult laryngoscopy in obese patients. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007 Feb;35(1):32-7. doi: 10.1177/0310057X0703500104.
• Chou HC, Wu TL. Large hypopharyngeal tongue: a shared anatomic abnormality for difficult mask ventilation, difficult intubation, and obstructive sleep apnea? Anesthesiology. 2001 May;94(5):936-7. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200105000-00043. No abstract available.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 9, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 26, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 26, 2008
• First Posted (Estimated): November 27, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 30, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 28, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ultrasound
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0526-08-EP