Using facial analysis to predict intubation difficulty
Comparison of a Computerized Image Analysis to Conventional Airway Examination Techniques to Predict Difficult Endotracheal Intubation
Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NCT01612949
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 |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 3500 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Wake Forest University Health Sciences (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT01612949 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients requiring endotracheal intubation who consent to having their facial images taken.
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.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve patient safety during intubation procedures.
How similar studies have performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- 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
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.
Conditions: Difficult Intubation, endotracheal intubation, facial structure, Mallampati score, computerized facial analysis