Predicting Post-op Airway Complications in Pediatric Patients Using Ultrasonography

This measure assesses the association between an increase in vocal cord thickness (measured in millimeters using ultrasonography) from pre-intubation to pre-extubation, and the incidence (%) of postoperative airway complications (categorical: presence or absence of cough, dysphonia, symptom of laryngospasm, and sign of upper airway obstruction).

Measurement Tool:

• Ultrasonography to measure vocal cord thickness in millimeters.
• The existence of post-operative airway complications is determined as follows: A post-operative airway complication is defined as cough, dysphonia, laryngospasm, or upper airway blockage within the first hour following surgery; if none of these findings are present, it is considered absent.

Unit of Measure:

• Millimeters for vocal cord thickness.
• Categorical outcome (yes/no) for airway complications

This measure assesses the association between an increase in subglottic airway wall thickness (measured in millimeters using ultrasonography) from pre-intubation to pre-extubation, and the incidence (%) of postoperative airway complications (categorical: presence or absence of cough, dysphonia, symptom of laryngospasm, and sign of upper airway obstruction).

Measurement Tool:

• Ultrasonography to measure subglottic airway wall thickness in millimeters.
• The existence of post-operative airway complications is determined as follows: A post-operative airway complication is defined as cough, dysphonia, laryngospasm, or upper airway blockage within the first hour following surgery; if none of these findings are present, it is considered absent.

Unit of Measure:

• Millimeters for subglottic airway wall thickness.
• Categorical outcome (yes/no) for airway complications

This outcome measure assesses the association between different types of surgery (categorized by anatomical regions as head-neck, musculoskeletal, abdominal) and the occurrence of postoperative airway complications (categorical: presence or absence of cough, dysphonia, symptom of laryngospasm, and sign of upper airway obstruction)

Measurement Tool:

• Classification of surgery type based on anatomical region. The classification will be as follows: 1st category head-neck, 2nd category abdomen, 3rd category musculoskeletal system surgeries.
• The existence of post-operative airway complications is determined as follows: A post-operative airway complication is defined as cough, dysphonia, laryngospasm, or upper airway blockage within the first hour following surgery; if none of these findings are present, it is considered absent.

Unit of Measure: Categorical (type of surgery); categorical outcome (presence/absence of airway complications).

This measure assesses the association between the diffence between in the narrowest airway diameter the outer diameter of the endotracheal tube placed and the incidence (%) of postoperative airway complications (categorical: presence or absence of cough, dysphonia, symptom of laryngospasm, and sign of upper airway obstruction)

Measurement Tool:

• Ultrasonography to measure the narrowest airway diameter.
• The outer diameter of endotracheal tube measurement listed on the endotracheal tube packaging will be accepted.
• The existence of post-operative airway complications is determined as follows: A post-operative airway complication is defined as cough, dysphonia, laryngospasm, or upper airway blockage within the first hour following surgery; if none of these findings are present, it is considered absent.

Unit of Measure: Millimeters for airway and tube diameters; categorical outcome (presence/absence of airway complications).

This outcome measure evaluates the association between the change in the position of the endotracheal tube, as determined by ultrasonography after intubation and before extubation, and the incidence (%) of postoperative airway complications (categorical: presence or absence of cough, dysphonia, symptom of laryngospasm, and sign of upper airway obstruction) Measurement Tool: Ultrasonography to assess changes in the position of the endotracheal tube.

Unit of Measure:

The endotracheal tube level will recorded as:

Cricothyroid membrane, Cricoid cartilage, First tracheal cartilage, Second tracheal cartilage, Third and the other tracheal cartilages If the tube level has changed, it will be recorded as 'change present'; if it remains the same, it will be recorded as 'no change'.

Position changes are categorical (change/no change); complications are categorical outcomes(presence/absence of airway complications).

: This outcome measure assesses the association between the endotracheal tube position before extubation, as determined by ultrasonography, and the incidence (%) of postoperative airway complications (categorical: presence or absence of cough, dysphonia, symptom of laryngospasm, and sign of upper airway obstruction)

Measurement Tool: Ultrasonography to measure the position of the endotracheal tube.

Unit of Measure: Tube position is categorized based on anatomical landmarks (1st category, 2nd category cricothyroid membrane, 3 rd category cricoid cartilage, 4 th category first tracheal cartilage, 5 th category second tracheal cartilage, 6 th category third and other tracheal cartilages); complications are categorical outcomes (presence/absence of airway complications).