Using facial analysis to predict intubation difficulty
Official title: Comparison of a Computerized Image Analysis to Conventional Airway Examination Techniques to Predict Difficult Endotracheal Intubation
Run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NCT01612949 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a computer program that uses pictures of patients' faces to see if it can predict how easy or hard it will be to insert a breathing tube.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 3500 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Wake Forest University Health Sciences Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 2012 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT01612949 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are patients requiring endotracheal intubation who consent to having their facial images taken.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have undergone head or neck surgery or those who do not fit the criteria for easy or difficult intubation will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project aims to develop a computer algorithm that predicts the ease or difficulty of intubating a patient based on digital photographs taken from three perspectives. By analyzing facial features that correlate with intubation difficulty, the study seeks to provide a consistent and quantitative measure, improving upon existing subjective methods. The study will recruit both easy and difficult intubation cohorts to validate the algorithm's effectiveness across diverse patient demographics. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance patient safety by reducing complications associated with difficult intubation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve patient safety during intubation procedures.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using facial analysis for predicting intubation difficulty is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in enhancing predictive accuracy in other medical contexts.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients requiring endotracheal intubation * Patients consenting to acquisition of photographic images of the head and neck Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who had undergone head or neck surgery * Patients in whom central venous catheters or other interventions that prevent full view of the features of the face in frontal and profile views * Patients who were neither easy nor difficult to intubate by our criteria
Where it's running
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Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Scott Segal, MD, MHCM — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Scott Segal, MD, MHCM
- Email: B.Segal@wfusm.edu
- Phone: (336) 716-7084
Similar studies
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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.