Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Airway Anatomy as a Predictor of Tracheostomy in Critically Ill Patients: A Multicampus Analysis of Airway Grade, Admission Diagnosis, and Clinical Trajectory
ABSTRACT Objective Determine whether the Cormack–Lehane airway grade at intubation predicts subsequent tracheostomy in critically ill adults and whether this association persists after controlling for admission diagnosis. Methods Retrospective multicenter cohort study of 10,234 ICU patients requiring ventilation across three campuses from April 2018 to June 2024. The primary predictor was Cormack–Lehane grade (1–4) during intubation; the primary outcome was tracheostomy. Principal problem documentation classified p …