A difficult airway is a clinical condition that occurs when one or more of the components of difficult mask ventilation, difficult laryngoscopy, difficult endotracheal intubation, difficult supraglottic airway device (SGA) placement, and inability to intubate-oxygenate are present. Data concerning incidence of difficult airway in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery is controversial. Unwanted hemodynamic changes that may occur in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery, combined with hemodynamic changes caused by underlying cardiac pathologies, may also lead to a physiologically difficult airway situation. Since all these interactions, combined with the hemodynamic changes caused by difficult airway interventions, may lead to catastrophic outcomes, it is vital to predict difficult airway in this patient population.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Undergoing cardiovascular surgery
* ASA I-IV physical status
* Over 18 years of age
Exclusion Criteria:
* Known difficult airway
* Head-neck and upper airway pathology
* Patients at risk of aspiration
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.