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. 2001 Mar;45(3):327-32.
doi: 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2001.045003327.x.

A survey of tracheal intubation difficulty in the operating room: a prospective observational study

F Adnet  1 , S X Racine, S W Borron, J L Clemessy, J L Fournier, F Lapostolle, M Cupa
Affiliations

A survey of tracheal intubation difficulty in the operating room: a prospective observational study

F Adnet et al. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2001 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to describe all degrees of endotracheal intubation difficulty among patients attended by eight anesthesiologists during routine surgery over a six-month period. Airway characteristics were routinely assessed preoperatively, according to the anesthesiologists' usual practice.

Methods: Difficult tracheal intubation was evaluated by the Intubation Difficulty Scale (IDS), a quantitative score based on seven variables. An IDS value of 0 is consistent with a procedure without difficulty, and an IDS > 5 with a procedure involving moderate to major difficulty.

Results: For 1171 patients undergoing tracheal intubation, IDS was 0 in 55%, and greater than 5 in 8% of cases. External laryngeal pressure, repositioning the patient and added use of a stylet were the most frequent methods chosen to facilitate tracheal intubation.

Conclusion: There was a high incidence (37%) of minor difficulties encountered during routine surgery.

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Comment in

  • Algorithm for difficult intubation.
    Benomof JC. Benomof JC. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2001 Oct;45(9):1186. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2001.450922.x. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2001. PMID: 11683673 No abstract available.

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