Predicting Difficult Intubations — Easier to Say Who Isn't at Risk

A new scoring system predicts low-risk intubations fairly well.

Intubating patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) can be a high-risk undertaking due to severe hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability. Proactively identifying patients who will be difficult to intubate could allow a healthcare team to prepare for advanced airway procedures and to avoid life-threatening complications.

French investigators developed a predictive model based on a derivation cohort of 1000 intubations from 42 ICUs and a validation cohort of 400 intubations from 18 different ICUs. Difficult intubations (defined as ≥3 attempts or efforts to intubate lasting >10 minutes) occurred in 11.3% (derivation) and 8% (validation) of intubations. Patients with difficult intubations had higher rates of life-threatening complications.

The mai…

Reviewing Author

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar