Predictive value of difficult airway identifiers for intubation‐related complications in the emergency department

• Published in: Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology 2021-12, Vol.6 (6), p.1474-1480
• Main Authors: Calamari, Kevin, Politano, Stephen, Brannan, Zachary, Rygalski, Chandler, Matrka, Laura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adjuncts; Age; Airway management; Cardiovascular disease; difficult airway; emergency department; Gender; Health Policy and Outcomes; Intubation; intubation complications; Lung diseases; Methods; Original Research; Ostomy; Patients; Tracheotomy
• ISSN: 2378-8038; 2378-8038
• DOI: 10.1002/lio2.674

Objectives The Airway Alert banner at our institution alerts physicians to patients with the potential for a difficult intubation. Difficult airway guidelines can reduce intubation complications in the operating room, but little research has been done in the emergency department (ED). We hypothesize that patients meeting criteria for the banner will have a more difficult intubation and increased complications. Methods Patients greater than 18 years old who presented to the ED for any complaint and required intubation were reviewed from January 2015 to January 2020 and divided into those meeting criteria for a difficult airway (“criteria cohort”) and those who did not (“non‐criteria cohort”). Past medical history and details of the intubation were collected. Results The mean number of attempts for intubation was 1.60 in the criteria cohort and 1.36 in the non‐criteria cohort (P > .05). The mean grade of view was 1.73 and 1.39, respectively (P