Could a tape measure around the neck predict a tough airway?
NCT ID NCT01191658
First seen Aug 19, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether measuring neck circumference can help predict how easy or difficult it will be to insert a breathing tube during surgery. Researchers will compare neck size (using a 43 cm cutoff) and mouth/throat classification against actual intubation difficulty in about 216 adults undergoing general anesthesia. The goal is to see if a simple, quick measurement can flag patients who might need extra airway precautions.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If neck size proves reliable, doctors could better anticipate intubation challenges and plan safer airway management.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-center study with a specific threshold; results may not apply to all patients or settings, and other factors also influence intubation difficulty.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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216 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Aug 2010
- Finished
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Dec 2010
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
adult patients who require tracheal intubation for general anesthesia and surgery
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1-4 * Receiving general endotracheal anesthesia for surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Limited range of motion of the neck or jaw * Cervical spine injuries * Upper airway pathology * Previous facial trauma, or goiter * Patients receiving regional anesthesia or anesthesia other than general, endotracheal anesthesia
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Charleston Area Medical Center
Charleston, West Virginia, 25304, United States