Predicting difficult airways in children before surgery
Prediction of Difficult Airway in Pediatric Patients Using Preoperative Clinical Parameters
This project will test whether simple preoperative airway checks can predict which children (0–12 years) will have a difficult airway during elective surgery under general anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 1000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 1 Day to 12 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara) |
| Trial ID | NCT07384611 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective observational effort enrolling children aged 0–12 undergoing elective operations with endotracheal intubation. Investigators will record preoperative clinical airway measurements and bedside airway tests, then correlate those findings with intraoperative outcomes such as Cormack‑Lehane grade III–IV (difficult laryngoscopy), difficult intubation, difficult mask ventilation, and airway complications. The team will analyze which clinical parameters or combinations best predict intraoperative airway difficulty. Results aim to produce practical predictors that can be applied at the bedside to improve preoperative risk stratification for pediatric airway management.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 0–12 years scheduled for elective surgery requiring endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia with ASA physical status I–III and parental or guardian consent.
Not a fit: Children in emergency situations, those with ASA IV or higher, patients with tracheostomies, or surgeries not requiring endotracheal intubation are excluded and would not benefit from the study's predictions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could identify children at higher risk for airway problems before anesthesia and prepare appropriate equipment and expertise, potentially reducing airway-related complications.
How similar studies have performed: Bedside airway prediction tools have shown modest success in adults, but pediatric data are limited and this specific prospective approach in children remains relatively untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pediatric patients aged 0-12 years * Scheduled for elective surgery requiring endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia * ASA physical status I-III * Written informed consent obtained from parent(s) or legal guardian(s) Exclusion Criteria: * Patients older than 12 years * ASA physical status IV or higher * Emergency situations that do not allow systematic documentation of the airway management process * Presence of a congenital or acquired tracheostomy * Surgical procedures planned to be performed using a supraglottic airway without endotracheal intubation * Surgical procedures planned to be performed using face mask ventilation without endotracheal intubation * Inability to obtain parental or legal guardian consent
Where this trial is running
Ankara
- Ankara Etlik City Hospital — Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Elif Şule Özdemir Sezgi
- Email: elifsule-91@hotmail.com
- Phone: 00905059209638
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.