Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Association of ease of intubation based on Fishers exact test
| Variables | Ease of Intubation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Modified | Total | P-value | |
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 66 (84.6%) | 12 (15.4%) | 78 | 0.554 |
| Female | 21 (77.8%) | 6 (22.2%) | 27 | |
| Age | ||||
| Less than 65 | 45 (75%) | 15 (25%) | 60 | 0.018 |
| More than 65 | 42 (93.3%) | 3 (7.6%) | 45 | |
| Patient Position | ||||
| Supine | 57 (77%) | 17 (23%) | 74 | 0.002 |
| Head up | 29 (100%) | 0 | 29 | |
| RAMP | 1 (50%) | 1 (50%) | 2 | |
| Face Mask Holding | ||||
| Single Hand | 53 (80.3%) | 13 (19.3%) | 66 | 0.774 |
| Both Hands CE | 31 (86%) | 5 (14%) | 36 | |
| Both Hands VE | 3 (100%) | 0 | 3 | |
| Glottis view | ||||
| Full | 75 (88.2%) | 10 (17.8%) | 85 | 0.001 |
| Partial | 12 (75%) | 4 (25%) | 16 | |
| None | 0 | 4 (100%) | 4 | |
Demographics and Baseline characteristics
| Variables | Categories | n | (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | 78 | 74.3 |
| Female | 27 | 25.7 | |
| Age groups (years) | Less than 65 | 60 | 57.1 |
| More than 65 | 45 | 42.9 | |
| Comorbidities | Diabetes mellitus | 70 | 66.7 |
| Hypertension | 56 | 53.3 | |
| Ischemic heart disease | 23 | 21.9 | |
| Immune compromise status | 9 | 8.6 | |
| CKD | 9 | 8.6 | |
| None | 6 | 5.7 | |
| COPD | 3 | 2.9 | |
| Malignancy | 2 | 1.9 | |
| Patient's COVID status | Confirmed | 97 | 92.4 |
| Suspected | 8 | 7.6 | |
| Location | COVID ward | 59 | 56.2 |
| COVID ICU | 23 | 21.9 | |
| Acute care unit | 11 | 10.5 | |
| Emergency room | 6 | 5.7 | |
| Others | 4 | 3.8 | |
| Surgical or medical ICU | 2 | 1.9 | |
| COVID operating room | 2 | 1.9 | |
| Ongoing oxygen therapy before intubation | Conventional nasal cannula / prongs | 4 | 3.8 |
| Simple facemask / non-rebreather mask | 15 | 14.3 | |
| High flow nasal oxygen / cannula | 0 | 0 | |
| Continuous positive airway pressure | 9 | 8.6 | |
| Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation | 77 | 73.3 | |
| Patient position for intubation | Supine | 74 | 70.5 |
| Head up 15–30 degree | 29 | 27.6 | |
| RAMP | 2 | 1.9 | |
| Induction technique | Classic RSI | 71 | 67.6 |
| Modified RSI | 21 | 20.0 | |
| Cardiac arrest situation - no drugs given | 13 | 2.4 | |
Tracheal intubation data
| Variables | n | (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Glottic View | ||
| Full | 85 | 8 |
| Partial | 16 | 15.2 |
| None | 4 | 3.8 |
| Ease of intubation | ||
| Easy – ETT passed in first attempt | 87 | 82.9 |
| Modified – ETT passed with more than one attempt | 18 | 17 |
| Unachievable – unable to pass ETT | 0 | 0 |
| Accessory maneuvers/adjuncts | ||
| External laryngeal manipulation | 23 | 21.9 |
| ETT stylet | 68 | 64.8 |
| Bougie | 5 | 4.8 |
| Magill forceps | 0 | 0 |
| None | 24 | 22.9 |
| Rescue device(s) and techniques | ||
| Change to conventional laryngoscope | 7 | 6.7 |
| LMA | 6 | 5.7 |
| Face mask ventilation | 5 | 4.8 |
| Front of neck access | 0 | 0 |
| None | 91 | 86.7 |
| Successful intubation | ||
| First attempt | 87 | 82.9 |
| Second attempt | 14 | 13.3 |
| More than two attempts | 4 | 3.8 |