RecruitingNCT01612949

Facial Analysis to Classify Difficult Intubation

Comparison of a Computerized Image Analysis to Conventional Airway Examination Techniques to Predict Difficult Endotracheal Intubation

Sponsor

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Enrollment

3,500 participants

Start Date

May 1, 2012

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Conditions

Difficult intubation

Summary

The aim of this project is to develop a computer algorithm that can accurately predict how easy or difficult it is to intubate a patient based upon digital photographs from three different perspectives. Such an application can provide a consistent, quantitative measure of intubation difficulty by analyzing facial features in captured photographs - features which have previously been shown to correlate with how easy or how hard it would be to perform the intubation procedure. This is in contrast to established subjective protocols that also serve to predict intubation difficulty, albeit with lower accuracy. A digital application has the potential to decrease potential complications related to intubation difficulty and increase patient safety.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 99 Years

Inclusion Criteria2

Patients requiring endotracheal intubation
Patients consenting to acquisition of photographic images of the head and neck

Exclusion Criteria3

Patients who had undergone head or neck surgery
Patients in whom central venous catheters or other interventions that prevent full view of the features of the face in frontal and profile views
Patients who were neither easy nor difficult to intubate by our criteria

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Interventions

OTHERphotographing head and neck

Taking three photographs of head and neck-one photograph from front, one from left and one fron right. The photographs are analyzed by facial structure software to create face model.