Difficult Airway Incidence in Cardiovascular Surgery and a Prediction Model Development

This observational study is documenting how often difficult airway situations arise in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery and using that data to build an artificial intelligence model that can predict airway difficulty before surgery occurs. Difficult intubation during cardiac surgery carries serious risks because these patients already have compromised heart function, making prediction especially important. Adults aged 18 and older classified as ASA I through IV who are undergoing cardiovascular surgery are eligible, unless they have a known difficult airway, head and neck pathology, or a risk of aspiration. Participation involves having airway assessments recorded before and during your anesthesia, with no change to your standard surgical care. This summary was prepared to help patients understand the study in plain language.