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. 2022 Jun 29;14:311–322. doi: 10.2147/OAEM.S372768

Table 1.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Difficult and Non-Difficult Laryngoscopy, and Discrimination Power (AuROC) Under Univariable Analysis

Prognostic Factor All (n=617) Difficult Laryngoscopy (n=83) Non-Difficult Laryngoscopy (n=534) P-value AuROC (95% CI)
n % n % n %
Mean (±SD) Mean (±SD) Mean (±SD)
Characteristic
Age (year), mean (SD) 68.66 (±17.61) 66.99 (±17.01) 68.92 (±17.70) 0.335 0.449 (0.385–0.512)
Male gender 349 56.56 53 63.86 296 55.43 0.155 0.542 (0.486–0.598)
Glasgow coma scale
 3–8 49 7.94 6 7.23 43 8.05 0.631 0.525 (0.477–0.573)
 9–12 105 17.02 11 13.25 94 17.60
 13–15 463 75.04 66 79.52 397 74.34
Traumatic Cause 35 5.67 8 9.64 27 5.06 0.120 0.523 (0.490–0.556)
Main Indication of intubation
 Failure oxygenation or ventilation 391 63.43 56 67.47 335 62.73 0.716 0.470 (0.415–0.524)
 Airway protection 146 23.66 20 24.10 126 23.60
 Anticipated 66 10.70 6 7.23 60 11.24
 Cash airway 14 2.27) 1 1.20 13 2.43
Intubation Method
 Direct laryngoscopy 512 82.98 67 80.72 445 83.33 0.533 0.513 (0.468–0.559)
 Indirect laryngoscopy 105 17.02 16 19.28 89 16.67
Method of intubation
 RSI 314 50.97 15 18.07 229 56.10 <0.001 0.657 (0.608–0.705)
 Sedation only, without paralysis 229 37.18 62 74.70 167 31.33
 No-medical assisted 69 11.20 3 3.61 66 12.38
 Others 4 0.65 3 3.61 1 0.19
Used of induction drug
 None 73 11.83 6 7.23 67 12.55 0.038 0.547 (0.496–0.598)
 Etomidate 458 74.23 62 74.70 396 74.16
 Ketamine 16 2.59 3 3.61 13 2.43
 Propofol 28 4.54 1 1.20 27 5.06
 Others 42 6.81 11 13.25 31 5.81
Used of paralytic drug
 None 301 48.78 68 81.93 233 43.63 <0.001 0.311 (0.262–0.359)
 Succinylcholine 286 46.35 13 15.66 273 51.12
 Rocuronium 30 4.86 2 2.41 28 5.24
Mean number attempts 1 (±0.7) 2 (±1.46) 1 (±0.4) <0.001 n/a
More than 1 attempts 109 17.67 55 66.27 54 10.11 <0.001 0.781 (0.728–0.834)
Failed intubation attempts 108 17.50 55 66.27 53 9.93 <0.001 0.782 (0.729–0.834)
Difficult intubation indicators
 Facial trauma 17 2.76 9 10.84 8 1.50 <0.001 0.547 (0.513–0.581)
 Large incisor 54 8.75 27 32.53 27 5.06 <0.001 0.637 (0.586–0.689)
 Beard or mustache 28 4.54 13 15.66 15 2.81 <0.001 0.564 (0.524–0.604)
 Large tongue 54 8.75 27 32.53 27 5.06 <0.001 0.637 (0.586–0.689)
 Limited mouth opening 70 11.35 40 48.19 30 5.62 <0.001 0.713 (0.658–0.768)
 Short hyomental distance 73 11.83 41 49.40 32 5.99 <0.001 0.717 (0.662–0.772)
 Short thyro-hyoid distance 68 11.02 39 46.99 29 5.43 <0.001 0.708 (0.653–0.763)
 Poor neck mobility 41 6.65 13 15.66 28 5.24 0.001 0.552 (0.512–0.593)
 Presence of obstructed airway 88 14.26 37 44.58 51 9.55 <0.001 0.675 (0.620–0.730)
 Mask seal 75 12.16 25 30.12 50 9.36 <0.001 0.604 (0.553–0.655)
 Obesity 79 12.80 35 42.17 44 8.24 <0.001 0.670 (0.615–0.724)
 Advanced age 203 32.90 42 50.60 161 30.15 <0.001 0.602 (0.545–0.660)
 No teeth 75 12.16 23 27.71 52 9.74 <0.001 0.590 (0.540–0.640)
 Stiff lung 28 4.54 7 8.43 21 3.93 0.084 0.523 (0.491–0.554)