Automated assessment of difficult airway using facial recognition

Automatic Assessment of Difficult Ventilation and Intubation From Automatic Face Analysis and Artificial Intelligence

Observational University of Lausanne Hospitals · NCT02022397

This study is testing a new software that uses facial recognition to help doctors identify patients who might have a hard time with breathing tubes during anesthesia, aiming to make surgeries safer.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment6000 (estimated)
Ages16 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Lausanne Hospitals Academic / other
Locations1 site (Lausanne, Canton of Vaud)
Trial IDNCT02022397 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This project aims to enhance patient safety during general anesthesia by developing software that utilizes image and video-processing technologies to automatically recognize anatomical features indicative of difficult ventilation and intubation. Patients will undergo a 10-minute assessment where their morphological and dynamic features will be analyzed in real-time to classify them into categories based on their risk for difficult airway management. The software will compute relevant measures such as mouth opening, visibility of anatomical landmarks, and neck mobility, which are critical for pre-operative anesthesia management. By improving the accuracy of pre-operative assessments, the study seeks to reduce complications associated with difficult airways.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adult patients aged 15 and older who require endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia.

Not a fit: Patients who refuse to participate in the assessment will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the safety and outcomes of patients undergoing general anesthesia by enabling more accurate pre-operative assessments.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of automated assessment techniques in anesthesia is a novel approach, similar studies have shown promise in improving pre-operative evaluations.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* adult patient (15 years of age)
* patients necessitating endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

-patient refusal

Where this trial is running

Lausanne, Canton of Vaud

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Adverse Effect of Other General Anesthetics, Sequelatracheal intubationpredicting difficult intubationgeneral anesthesiadifficult ventilation
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.