Evaluation of Anterior Neck Ultrasound in Predicting Difficult Airway in Obese Patients

NCT07346768 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: GaziantepCH
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 52
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Obese patients are at increased risk of difficult airway management due to anatomical changes in the anterior neck soft tissues. Accurate preoperative prediction of difficult airway remains challenging using conventional clinical airway assessment tests alone. This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the role of ultrasound assessment of anterior neck soft tissue thickness in predicting difficult airway risk in overweight and obese adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. Ultrasound-based anterior neck measurements will be compared with standard clinical airway assessment parameters to determine their diagnostic accuracy for difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. The results of this study may contribute to improved preoperative airway risk stratification and safer airway management in obese patients.

Conditions

Ultrasonography; Airway Management; Intubation, Intratracheal; Obesity and Overweight

Keywords

Obesity; difficult airway; anterior neck ultrasound; ultrasonography

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Cormack-Lehane grade III-IV

  Occurrence of difficult airway during anesthesia induction, defined by difficult laryngoscopy

  During anesthesia induction

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Ultrasound-derived anterior neck soft tissue measurements

  During anesthesia induction

• Intubation Difficulty Scale (IDS) score

  during tracheal intubation

• Han Scale

  during ventilation

Other Outcomes (1)

• Airway-related complications

  during anesthesia induction

Study Arms (1)

Overweight and Obese Surgical Patients

Adult overweight and obese patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia who will receive standard care airway management.

Other: None (Observational study)

Interventions

None (Observational study) OTHER

one group, there is no intervention. All measurements and observations will be performed during routine clinical care only

Overweight and Obese Surgical Patients

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Overweight and obese adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-70 years
• ASA physical status I-III
• \* BMI \>25 kg/m²
• Scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia

You may not qualify if:

• Emergency surgery
• Pregnancy
• Maxillofacial anomalies or neck masses
• Rapid sequence induction
• Previous history of difficult intubation
• BMI \>60 kg/m²

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gaziantep City Hospital: lead

Related Publications (3)

• Udayakumar GS, Priya L, Narayanan V. Comparison of Ultrasound Parameters and Clinical Parameters in Airway Assessment for Prediction of Difficult Laryngoscopy and Intubation: An Observational Study. Cureus. 2023 Jul 5;15(7):e41392. doi: 10.7759/cureus.41392. eCollection 2023 Jul.

  PMID: 37546081 RESULT

• Kaul R, Singh D, Prakash J, Priye S, Kumar S, Bharati. Ultrasound Guided Measurement of Anterior Neck Tissue for the Prediction of Difficult Airway: A Prospective Observational Study. Rom J Anaesth Intensive Care. 2022 Dec 29;28(2):105-110. doi: 10.2478/rjaic-2021-0018. eCollection 2021 Dec.

  PMID: 36844111 RESULT

• Akin S, Yildirim M, Artas H, Bolat E. Predicting difficult airway in morbidly obese patients using ultrasound. Turk J Med Sci. 2023 Nov 21;54(1):262-274. doi: 10.55730/1300-0144.5787. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 38812631 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity; Overweight

Interventions

Observation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Methods; Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• Gamze Nur Teke, medical doctor

  Gaziantep City Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Gamze Nur Teke, medical doctor

CONTACT

+905546634389; gamzenur.koca@gmail.com

Gamze Nur Teke

CONTACT

gamzenur.koca@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 8, 2026
• First Posted: January 16, 2026
• Study Start: January 20, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 20, 2026
• Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share