Which physical findings best predict difficult endotracheal intubation?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

Major airway management complications are a source of serious morbidity and mortality.[1] Bedside airway examination tests are used to predict difficult airways, but there is equipoise regarding their utility as screening tests due to low sensitivities.[2] The implication is that the screening process would misclassify a potentially difficult airway as being normal. This review determines the predictive performance of these airway screening tests.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

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