Preoperative Prediction of Difficult Airway in Children

NCT07384611 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: AEŞH-EK-2026-009
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 1,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative clinical airway assessment parameters for difficult airway management in pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. Preoperative clinical measurements and bedside airway tests will be recorded, and their association with intraoperative airway outcomes, including difficult laryngoscopy and difficult intubation, will be analyzed. Difficult laryngoscopy will be defined as Cormack-Lehane grade III-IV, while secondary outcomes will include difficult intubation, difficult mask ventilation, and airway-related complications. The study seeks to identify clinically applicable predictors and improve preoperative risk stratification for pediatric airway management. The findings may contribute to safer anesthetic practice in children by facilitating early identification of patients at increased airway risk.

Conditions

Pediatric Anesthesia; Difficult Laryngoscopy

Keywords

Pediatric Anesthesia; Difficult Laryngoscopy; Difficult Airway

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Difficult Laryngoscopy

  Difficult laryngoscopy defined as Cormack-Lehane grade III or IV during laryngoscopy at tracheal intubation.

  Perioperative/Periprocedural

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• First-Attempt Intubation Success

  Perioperative/Periprocedural

Interventions

Preoperative Clinical Airway Assessment OTHER

Preoperative clinical airway assessment including bedside airway examination and anthropometric measurements performed as part of routine anesthetic evaluation, without any additional intervention beyond standard clinical practice.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 1 Day - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of pediatric patients aged 0 to 12 years who are scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation.

You may qualify if:

• Pediatric patients aged 0-12 years
• Scheduled for elective surgery requiring endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia
• ASA physical status I-III
• Written informed consent obtained from parent(s) or legal guardian(s)

You may not qualify if:

• Patients older than 12 years
• ASA physical status IV or higher
• Emergency situations that do not allow systematic documentation of the airway management process
• Presence of a congenital or acquired tracheostomy
• Surgical procedures planned to be performed using a supraglottic airway without endotracheal intubation
• Surgical procedures planned to be performed using face mask ventilation without endotracheal intubation
• Inability to obtain parental or legal guardian consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ankara Etlik City Hospital

Ankara, 06000, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Elif Şule Özdemir Sezgi

CONTACT

00905059209638; elifsule-91@hotmail.com

Aslı Dönmez

CONTACT

00905322256473; aslidonmez@hotmail.com

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2026
• First Posted: February 3, 2026
• Study Start: February 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 3, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 20, 2027
• Last Updated: February 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

TU (1)