Management of difficult and failed intubation in the general surgical population: a historical cohort study in a...

The objective of this study was to describe the incidence, management, and complications of difficult and failed endotracheal intubation in a general surgical population.

This historical cohort study included all cases of difficult endotracheal intubation in general surgical patients at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, ON, Canada) from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2017. Patient charts and electronic records were reviewed to collect data on airway management and complications. Endotracheal intubation was graded as "difficult" if more than two attempts with direct laryngoscopy or if additional equipment for second or subsequent attempts was required, and "failed" if it could not be achieved despite the attempts. The primary outcome was the incidence of difficult and failed intubation. The secondary outcomes were complications, difficult airway parameters, mask ventilation, number of intubation attempts, and rescue devices including the eventually successful method.

We identified 111 cases of difficult intubation (0.26%) and 14 cases of failed intubation (0.03%) in 42,805 surgical cases requiring endotracheal intubation over the seven-year period. The incidence was highest in 2012 (0.36%) and lowest in 2017 (0.13%). Difficulty was anticipated in 84 (76%) patients. The median (range) number of intubation attempts was 2 (2-5). Videolaryngoscopy was the eventually successful method in those with unsuccessful first attempt direct laryngoscopy (n = 91) and videolaryngoscopy (n = 17) in 71% and 77% cases, respectively. Intubation failed in 14 patients, three of whom required a surgical airway because the lungs could not be ventilated. Poor visualization of the glottis (93%) and airway bleeding (36%) were the leading causes of failed intubation. Desaturation was seen in 8%, airway bleeding in 7%, and airway edema in 6% of cases of difficult intubation.

The incidences of difficult and failed intubations in our study were 2.6 and 0.3 per 1,000 surgeries requiring laryngoscopies, respectively, with a decrease over time. Videolaryngoscopy showed a high success rate as a rescue device.