Improving how doctors predict difficult breathing tube placement

When doctors need to place a breathing tube in your windpipe (trachea) while you remain awake — using a thin, flexible camera called a bronchoscope — sometimes this procedure can be more difficult than expected. This study aims to create new classification tools and prediction models to help doctors better predict which patients might have a difficult time during this procedure, and to evaluate how well the procedure goes when it does happen.

Currently, doctors use older classification systems that were designed for different types of airway procedures, but these tools don't work well for predicting difficulty with awake breathing tube placement using a flexible camera. This study will create specialized prediction tools tailored specifically for this type of procedure to help doctors prepare better and keep patients safer.