International obServational sTudy on AiRway manaGement in operAting Room and Non-operaTing Room anaEsthesia

According to WHO, more than 230 million major surgical procedures are carried out under general anaesthesia each year worldwide. Despite important technological advances, airway management remains a major challenge in anesthesiology. Data from large perspective studies on current incidence of major peri-intubation adverse events are lacking in the anesthesia setting, especially on outcomes such as peri-intubation cardiovascular collapse, severe hypoxemia, and cardiac arrest. These events are more common in case of difficulties with airway management so that first pass intubation failure significantly increase the risks. Moreover, it has been documented that even transient hypotension during general anesthesia, may have long-term consequences and may be associated with a worse outcome in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The primary aim of the study is to assess the current incidence of major adverse events during advanced airway management for anesthesia in patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery and in the setting of non-operating room anesthesia. The secondary aim is to assess the current practice of airway management during anesthesia worldwide.

Study design: International, multicenter, prospective cohort study

Inclusion criteria: We will include all adult (≥ 18 years old) patients undergoing advanced airway management for general anaesthesia in operating room (OR) or non-operating room anaesthesia (NORA).

Exclusion criteria: Airway management during cardiopulmonary resuscitation; critically ill patients undergoing intubation due to their underlying clinical condition.

Primary outcome: At least one of the following major peri-intubation adverse events occurring within 30 minutes from induction or up to surgical incision: severe hypoxia, cardiovascular collapse, cardiac arrest.