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. 2025 Aug 22;20:1325–1336. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S530162

Table 4.

Details of Related Events Associated with Awake Flexible Bronchoscopy Intubation

Overall First Attempt Success Multiple Attempts Success P-Value
(n = 147) (n = 128) (n = 19)
Cough and gag grade
 Pre-intubation <0.001
  0 134 (91.16%) 123 (96.09%) 11 (57.89%)
  1 13 (8.84%) 5 (3.91%) 8 (42.11%)
 During intubation <0.001
  0 0 0 0
  1 134 (91.16%) 125 (97.66%) 9 (47.37%)
  2 13 (8.84%) 3 (2.34%) 10 (52.63%)
  3 0 0 0
 After intubation 0.013
  0 121 (82.31%) 108 (84.38%) 13 (68.42%)
  1 23 (15.65%) 19 (14.84%) 4 (21.05%)
  2 3 (2.04%) 1 (0.78%) 2 (10.53%)
  3 0 0 0
Secretion grade 0.169
 0 64 (43.54%) 57 (44.53%) 7 (36.84%)
 1 53 (36.05%) 48 (37.50%) 5 (26.32%)
 2 28 (19.05%) 22 (17.19%) 6 (31.58%)
 3 2 (1.36%) 1 (0.78%) 1 (5.26%)
Change of more experienced operator 11 (7.48%) 6 (4.69%) 5 (26.32%) 0.004
Change of ETT size 3 (2.04%) 0 3 (15.79%) <0.001
Allergic reaction 1 (0.68%) 1 (0.78%) 0 >0.999
Desaturation 8 (5.44%) 7 (5.47%) 1 (5.26%) >0.999
Bradycardia 9 (6.12%) 8 (6.25%) 1 (5.26%) >0.999
Arrhythmia 1 (0.68%) 1 (0.78%) 0 >0.999

Notes: Values are presented as n (%). Cough and gag grades during the procedure were defined as: 0: no reaction; 1: minimal coughing and gagging <3 times that do not hinder intubation; 2: mild cough and gag lasting for <1 min hindering intubation; 3: persistent coughing and gagging with defensive movement of head or hands. Secretion Grades were defined as: 0: no visible secretion; 1: small amount of secretion that does not require any oropharyngeal suction; 2: moderate amount of secretion that can be completely removed by oropharyngeal suction; 3: large amount of secretion that requires oropharyngeal suction more than two times during the procedure. Desaturation was defined as SpO2 ≤ 90%.

Abbreviation: ETT, endotracheal tube.