Predicting difficult mask ventilation and intubation using STOP-BANG in obese adults
Official title: Enhancing Difficult Airway Prediction in Obese Patients: Integrating STOP-BANG With Additional Airway Assessment Tools
Run by Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation · NCT07493356 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether the STOP-BANG questionnaire can predict difficult mask ventilation and difficult intubation in obese adults having elective surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 233 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Karachi, Sindh) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 9, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 8, 2026 |
| Study ends | September 8, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | March 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07493356 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18–60 years old with BMI ≥30, ASA II–III, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with planned endotracheal intubation who can give informed consent are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with known obstructive sleep apnea, ASA IV–V, neuromuscular disease, significant facial or airway deformities, emergency procedures, or limited mouth opening were excluded and may not benefit from these results.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Adults with BMI ≥30 scheduled for elective surgery will have STOP-BANG scores and standard airway checks (modified Mallampati, thyromental distance, mouth opening, upper lip bite) recorded during preoperative assessment. In the operating room, a blinded anesthesiologist will perform standard induction and record bag-mask ventilation difficulty and intubation grade. Demographic data and intraoperative observations will be collected and correlated with STOP-BANG to estimate diagnostic accuracy. Patients with prior OSA diagnosis, major airway deformities, or emergency/selected specialty surgeries are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, using STOP-BANG could help clinicians identify obese patients at higher risk for difficult airway management so they can plan safer anesthesia strategies.
How similar studies have gone: STOP-BANG is well established for sleep apnea screening and a few prior studies have explored its relation to difficult airway with mixed results, so this approach is partly supported but not yet definitive.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Male \& Female aged 18-60 years. * Body mass index 30 or more * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status II-III. * Scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients' refusal to participate. * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) IV \& V. * Neuromuscular diseases or facial abnormalities. * Cardiothoracic, head and neck, or emergency surgery. * Previously diagnosed with OSA (by polysomnography) will be excluded. * Any airway-related anatomical deformity (e.g., Down's syndrome). * History of radiation exposure. * Patient with mouth opening \<2 fingers
Where it's running
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Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Syed M Abbas, FCPS — Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation
- Study coordinator: Syed M Abbas, FCPS
- Email: smabbas69@hotmail.com
- Phone: 02199215718
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.