CRICKET: Critical Events in Anaesthetised Kids Undergoing Tracheal Intubation

This study, called CRICKET, is collecting data on critical events that occur when children are put to sleep and have a breathing tube placed during general anesthesia. Tracheal intubation — the process of inserting a tube into a child's airway — is a routine but technically demanding procedure, and complications can occur even in experienced hands. The goal is to better understand how often these complications happen, what they look like, and how they can be prevented. All children from birth up to 16 years of age who need tracheal intubation as part of a procedure requiring general anesthesia may be included. Consent is obtained from parents or guardians according to ethics committee guidelines. The only exclusion is age over 16 or refusal of consent. Pediatric airway management carries unique challenges compared to adults — children's airways are smaller, anatomy differs with age, and there is less room for error. By systematically recording critical events across many institutions, CRICKET aims to build a comprehensive picture of complication rates and contributing factors. This information is vital for developing safer protocols, improving training, and ultimately reducing harm during one of the most critical moments in pediatric anesthesia care.