Patient Experience of Transoral Versus Transnasal Awake Tracheal Intubation

Airway management problems are key drivers for anesthesia-related adverse events. Awake tracheal intubation using flexible bronchoscopy and preserved spontaneous breathing (ATI:FB) is a recommended technique to manage difficult tracheal intubation in anaesthesia, intensive care and emergency medicine. ATI:FB is regarded as the gold standard of tracheal intubation in many scenarios, however there is insufficient data on the patients experience while undergoing this form of airway management. ATI:FB can be facilitated using either a transnasal or transoral route. The study aims to compare patient-centred and operator-focused outcome parameters between these two different approaches with a focus on patient discomfort.