Investigation of tracheal intubation operator and patients in difficult airway study

Abstract

Investigation of tracheal intubation operator and patients in difficult airway studyWe read with great interest the study by Kohse et al. [1], who have developed a scoring system: the videolaryngoscopic intubation and difficult airway classification (VIDIAC) score and concluded that this model will be of significant help to anaesthetists in terms of airway management when planning follow-up anaesthesia. However, we would like to raise some questions regarding the study.

A universal classification for videolaryngoscopy using the VIDIAC score requires real world conditions: a reply

“…We thank Dr's Lee and Choi for their interest in our work and for emphasising the importance of participating airway operators when interpreting airway studies [1]. It is well known that airway operator skill and experience affect performance of tracheal intubation [2]; therefore, skilled senior airway operators are often favoured participants in interventional studies.…”

“…The gender‐specific median (IQR [range]) VIDIAC scores were 1 (−1–2 [−1–5]) for females and 1 (−1–3 [−1–5]) for males; tube sizes were 6.5 (6.5–7.0 [5.0–7.5]) mm for females and 7.0 (7.0–8.0 [5.0–8.5]) mm for males. However, we believe the tracheal tube size findings obtained from patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery cannot be extrapolated to those with difficult airways undergoing ear, nose and throat or oral and maxillofacial surgery [1].…”