Airway Survey - International Airway Assessment Practices (2023-2028)

NCT07886060 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Airway Survey
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 2,000
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This international, multicenter, observational survey study aims to assess current clinical practices in preoperative airway assessment in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at both the institutional and individual anesthesiologist levels. The study focuses on the use of individual airway assessment parameters versus combined assessment scores, as well as current documentation practices. An initial survey will establish baseline practices before the anticipated publication of the updated German Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) guidelines in 2028. A follow-up survey will be conducted after guideline publication to evaluate potential changes in clinical practice. The study aims to identify differences between the three participating countries and assess changes in airway assessment and documentation practices following the publication of the updated guidelines.

Conditions

Airway Assessment

Keywords

Airway Assessment; Clinical Practice Guidelines; Preoperative Airway Evaluation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Use of Individual Airway Assessment Parameters Versus Combined Assessment Scores in Clinical Practice

  Proportion of participating anesthesiology departments in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland using individual clinical assessment parameters, multivariable airway assessment scores, or a combination of both for preoperative airway assessment, as determined by a structured institutional questionnaire.

  Baseline survey, prior to publication of the updated DGAI guidelines (anticipated in 2028).

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Differentiation of Predictors According to Airway Management Technique

  Baseline survey (2026-2027)

• Documentation of Airway Assessment Findings

  Baseline survey (2026-2027)

• Quality Assurance of Preoperative Airway Assessment

  Baseline survey (2026-2027)

• Changes in Airway Assessment Practices Following Guideline Publication

  Baseline survey (2026-2027) and follow-up survey after publication of the updated DGAI guidelines (anticipated in 2028)

Study Arms (2)

Anaesthesiology Departments

Anesthesiology departments in hospitals across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland participating in an institutional survey assessing standardized preoperative airway assessment protocols, clinical practices, and documentation requirements.

Procedure: Structured Survey on Preoperative Airway Assessment

Individual Anaesthesiologists

Practicing anesthesiologists in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland participating in an individual survey assessing the use of clinical airway assessment parameters, multivariable airway assessment scores, and documentation practices.

Procedure: Structured Survey on Preoperative Airway Assessment

Interventions

Structured Survey on Preoperative Airway Assessment PROCEDURE

Structured questionnaire-based assessment of institutional and individual preoperative airway assessment practices, conducted before and after publication of the updated DGAI guidelines.

Anaesthesiology Departments; Individual Anaesthesiologists

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population includes licensed physicians practicing anesthesiology and anesthesiology departments in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Institutional recruitment targets university hospitals, tertiary care hospitals, selected hospital networks (Asklepios, Helios, Schön Kliniken, church-affiliated hospitals, and BG Kliniken), and ambulatory surgical centers providing anesthesiology services. Recruitment will be conducted through institutional and professional email distribution lists, direct invitations, QR codes displayed in hospitals, and designated information booths at anesthesiology conferences. Participation is voluntary and requires informed consent for the collection and processing of pseudonymized survey data. Responses containing clearly implausible information will be excluded from analysis.

You may qualify if:

• Institutions
• Hospitals in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland with an established department of anesthesiology.
• Ambulatory surgical centers providing exclusively outpatient surgical care and involving anesthesiology services.
• Individual Participants
• Anesthesiologists currently practicing in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, including residents in anesthesiology and board-certified anesthesiologists.

You may not qualify if:

• Institutions
• Hospitals without an anesthesiology department.
• Ambulatory surgical centers without anesthesiology services.
• Institutions located outside Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
• Individual Participants
• Physicians not currently practicing anesthesiology.
• Anesthesiologists practicing exclusively outside Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
• Individuals who do not provide informed consent to participate in the survey.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz: lead

Related Publications (2)

• Ilper H, Grossbach A, Franz-Jager C, Byhahn C, Klages M, Ackermann HH, Zacharowski K, Kunz T. Thyromental distance ("Patil") revisited : Knowledge and performance of a basic airway screening tool among European anesthetists. Anaesthesist. 2018 Mar;67(3):198-203. doi: 10.1007/s00101-018-0412-y. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

  PMID: 29392357 BACKGROUND

• Ilper H, Franz-Jager C, Byhahn C, Klages M, Ackermann HH, Zacharowski K, Kunz T. [Update Mallampati : Theoretical and practical knowledge of European anesthetists on basic evaluation of airways]. Anaesthesist. 2018 Oct;67(10):738-744. doi: 10.1007/s00101-018-0481-y. Epub 2018 Aug 31. German.

  PMID: 30171286 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Katharina Epp, Dr. med., MD

  University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Germany

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Katharina Epp, Dr. med., MD

CONTACT

0049 6131 170; kathaepp@uni-mainz.de

Hendrik Ilper, Dr. med., MD

CONTACT

0049 40 7306; h.ilper@bgk-hamburg.de

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr.med. Katharina Epp

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 14, 2026
• First Posted: October 21, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028
• Last Updated: October 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share