Laryngeal CancerNCT07324317
Validation of End-to-End Difficult Airway Pathway Planning Algorithm (EAP-LC)
An observational study of Laryngeal Cancer and Difficult Airway, run by Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University.
Trial summary
Patients with laryngeal cancer often present with varying degrees of airway narrowing or anatomical distortion, making airway management particularly challenging. Awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation is a widely accepted and important strategy to ensure airway safety in this population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Laryngeal Cancer, Difficult Airway
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to 30 Jun 2026
- How long will I take part?
- 1 Day
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult patients (≥18 years) with laryngeal cancer or laryngeal tumors scheduled for laryngeal surgery under general anesthesia, who are assessed preoperatively as requiring awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation for airway safety. All participants will undergo routine clinical management without alteration of anesthetic strategy, with additional standardized video recording during awake intubation for observational analysis.
Who may be able to join
- Patients scheduled to undergo laryngeal cancer surgery under general anesthesia, including supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic laryngeal cancers, as well as lesions involving the hypopharynx-larynx junction, who are assessed preoperatively as requiring awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation. Eligible participants must meet all of the following criteria: age ≥ 18 years, with no restriction on sex; a confirmed diagnosis of laryngeal cancer or laryngeal tumor based on previous or preoperative imaging and/or pathological findings; a planned laryngeal surgical procedure; a preoperative anesthetic assessment indicating the need for awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation to ensure airway safety; completion of contrast-enhanced laryngeal and/or cervical computed tomography (CT) within 2 weeks prior to surgery, with image quality adequate for analysis by the EAP-LC algorithm; clear consciousness, the ability to understand the study procedures, and voluntary provision of written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Patients will be excluded if they meet any of the following conditions: inability to cooperate with awake intubation due to severe anxiety, cognitive impairment, or psychiatric disorders; a history of total laryngectomy or loss of normal laryngeal anatomical structures that precludes oral or nasal flexible bronchoscopic intubation; severe coagulation disorders or an uncontrollable risk of bleeding; or any other condition deemed by the investigators to make participation inappropriate, such as refusal of video recording or special confidentiality requirements.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: A Prospective Clinical Validation Study of an End-to-End Difficult Airway Pathway Planning Algorithm (EAP-LC) in Patients With Laryngeal Cancer: A Spatial Consistency Assessment Based on Awake Flexible Bronchoscopic Intubation Videos
Patients with laryngeal cancer often present with varying degrees of airway narrowing or anatomical distortion, making airway management particularly challenging. Awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation is a widely accepted and important strategy to ensure airway safety in this population. Currently, the selection of the intubation pathway mainly relies on visual assessment of preoperative computed tomography (CT) images and the clinical experience of anesthesiologists, lacking objective and quantifiable tools for airway pathway planning.
Our research group has developed an end-to-end airway pathway planning algorithm for laryngeal cancer patients (EAP-LC), which can automatically generate predicted nasal or oral intubation pathways based on preoperative pharyngeal and upper airway CT images. Preliminary simulation analyses based on retrospective CT data demonstrated that the algorithm is capable of identifying airway narrowing and generating trajectories that are close to clinically feasible intubation paths (preliminary data, under review). However, to date, no study has directly compared the algorithm-predicted pathways with actual intubation trajectories obtained during awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation. Therefore, a prospective clinical validation study is required to evaluate the spatial consistency and clinical feasibility of the EAP-LC algorithm.
Without altering routine clinical treatment or anesthetic management, this study aims to evaluate the clinical accuracy, safety, and feasibility of the EAP-LC algorithm by comparing the intubation pathways predicted from preoperative CT images with the real-world trajectories recorded during awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation. The results of this study are expected to provide a more precise and objective decision-support tool for airway management in patients with laryngeal cancer.
- Conditions
- Laryngeal Cancer, Difficult Airway
- Being tested
- No Interventions
- Medical subject headings
- Laryngeal Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
No InterventionsOther
No Intervention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Awake Flexible Bronchoscopic Intubation Group | Not described Receives: Other: No Interventions |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
proportion of cases
Measured: During the awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation procedure
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Laryngeal CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
- Target duration
- 1 Day
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07324317
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025321
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 24 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 7 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
1. McTigue C, McGoldrick KE，Airway management in head and neck cancer: A review. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2021;34(1):41-49. 2. Awake fiberoptic intubation in the management of the difficult airway. Anesth Analg. 2001;92(6):1523-1528. 3. Awake tracheal intubation: a modern, high-value technique in airway management.Br J Anaesth. 2023;130(2):e151-e154. 4. Cook TM, Woodall N, Frerk C, et al. Major complications of airway management in the United Kingdom: results of the 4th National Audit Project (NAP4). Br J Anaesth. 2011;106(5):617-631. 5. Ozgul G, Cetinkaya E, Ozgul MA, et al. Efficacy and safety of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy with or without radial endobronchial ultrasound for peripheral lung lesions. Endosc Ultrasound. 2016;5:189-195. 6. Ahmad I, El-Boghdadly K, Bhagrath R, et al. Difficult Airway Society guidelines for awake tracheal intubation (ATI) in adults. Anaesthesia. 2020;75(4):509-528. 7. Rosenstock CV, Thøgersen B, Afshari A, Christensen AL, Eriksen C, Gätke MR. Awake fiberoptic or awake video laryngoscopic tracheal intubation in patients with anticipated difficult airway management: a randomized clinical trial. Anesthesiology. 2012;116(6):1210-1216. 8. Kramer A, Muller D, Pfannenstiel C, Mohr C, Groeben H. Fibreoptic vs videolaryngoscopic (C-MAC D-BLADE) nasal awake intubation in head and neck cancer patients with difficult airways - a randomized clinical trial.Anaesthesia. 2015;70(12):1311-1316. 9. Mendonca C, Mesbah A, Velayudhan A, Danha R. A randomized clinical trial comparing the flexible fibrescope and the Pentax Airway Scope® for awake oral tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia. 2016;71(8):908-914.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Prospective Clinical Validation Study of an End-to-End Difficult Airway Pathway Planning Algorithm (EAP-LC) in Patients With Laryngeal Cancer: A Spatial Consistency Assessment Based on Awake Flexible Bronchoscopic Intubation Videos
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07324317
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025321
- Conditions
- Laryngeal Cancer, Difficult Airway
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 7 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Patients with laryngeal cancer often present with varying degrees of airway narrowing or anatomical distortion, making airway management particularly challenging. Awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation is a widely accepted and important strategy to ensure airway safety in this population. Currently, the selection of the intubation pathway mainly relies on visual assessment of preoperative computed tomography (CT) images and the clinical experience of anesthesiologists, lacking objective and quantifiable tools for airway pathway planning.
Our research group has developed an end-to-end airway pathway planning algorithm for laryngeal cancer patients (EAP-LC), which can automatically generate predicted nasal or oral intubation pathways based on preoperative pharyngeal and upper airway CT images. Preliminary simulation analyses based on retrospective CT data demonstrated that the algorithm is capable of identifying airway narrowing and generating trajectories that are close to clinically feasible intubation paths (preliminary data, under review). However, to date, no study has directly compared the algorithm-predicted pathways with actual intubation trajectories obtained during awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation. Therefore, a prospective clinical validation study is required to evaluate the spatial consistency and clinical feasibility of the EAP-LC algorithm.
Without altering routine clinical treatment or anesthetic management, this study aims to evaluate the clinical accuracy, safety, and feasibility of the EAP-LC algorithm by comparing the intubation pathways predicted from preoperative CT images with the real-world trajectories recorded during awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation. The results of this study are expected to provide a more precise and objective decision-support tool for airway management in patients with laryngeal cancer.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Target follow-up
- 1 Day
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Awake Flexible Bronchoscopic Intubation Group | – | Other: No Interventions |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult patients (≥18 years) with laryngeal cancer or laryngeal tumors scheduled for laryngeal surgery under general anesthesia, who are assessed preoperatively as requiring awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation for airway safety. All participants will undergo routine clinical management without alteration of anesthetic strategy, with additional standardized video recording during awake intubation for observational analysis.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Patients scheduled to undergo laryngeal cancer surgery under general anesthesia, including supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic laryngeal cancers, as well as lesions involving the hypopharynx-larynx junction, who are assessed preoperatively as requiring awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation. Eligible participants must meet all of the following criteria: age ≥ 18 years, with no restriction on sex; a confirmed diagnosis of laryngeal cancer or laryngeal tumor based on previous or preoperative imaging and/or pathological findings; a planned laryngeal surgical procedure; a preoperative anesthetic assessment indicating the need for awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation to ensure airway safety; completion of contrast-enhanced laryngeal and/or cervical computed tomography (CT) within 2 weeks prior to surgery, with image quality adequate for analysis by the EAP-LC algorithm; clear consciousness, the ability to understand the study procedures, and voluntary provision of written informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Patients will be excluded if they meet any of the following conditions: inability to cooperate with awake intubation due to severe anxiety, cognitive impairment, or psychiatric disorders; a history of total laryngectomy or loss of normal laryngeal anatomical structures that precludes oral or nasal flexible bronchoscopic intubation; severe coagulation disorders or an uncontrollable risk of bleeding; or any other condition deemed by the investigators to make participation inappropriate, such as refusal of video recording or special confidentiality requirements.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| No InterventionsNo Intervention | Other | Awake Flexible Bronchoscopic Intubation Group |
Primary outcome
proportion of cases
Time frame: During the awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation procedure
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Jan 2026.
- Background1. McTigue C, McGoldrick KE，Airway management in head and neck cancer: A review. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2021;34(1):41-49. 2. Awake fiberoptic intubation in the management of the difficult airway. Anesth Analg. 2001;92(6):1523-1528. 3. Awake tracheal intubation: a modern, high-value technique in airway management.Br J Anaesth. 2023;130(2):e151-e154. 4. Cook TM, Woodall N, Frerk C, et al. Major complications of airway management in the United Kingdom: results of the 4th National Audit Project (NAP4). Br J Anaesth. 2011;106(5):617-631. 5. Ozgul G, Cetinkaya E, Ozgul MA, et al. Efficacy and safety of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy with or without radial endobronchial ultrasound for peripheral lung lesions. Endosc Ultrasound. 2016;5:189-195. 6. Ahmad I, El-Boghdadly K, Bhagrath R, et al. Difficult Airway Society guidelines for awake tracheal intubation (ATI) in adults. Anaesthesia. 2020;75(4):509-528. 7. Rosenstock CV, Thøgersen B, Afshari A, Christensen AL, Eriksen C, Gätke MR. Awake fiberoptic or awake video laryngoscopic tracheal intubation in patients with anticipated difficult airway management: a randomized clinical trial. Anesthesiology. 2012;116(6):1210-1216. 8. Kramer A, Muller D, Pfannenstiel C, Mohr C, Groeben H. Fibreoptic vs videolaryngoscopic (C-MAC D-BLADE) nasal awake intubation in head and neck cancer patients with difficult airways - a randomized clinical trial.Anaesthesia. 2015;70(12):1311-1316. 9. Mendonca C, Mesbah A, Velayudhan A, Danha R. A randomized clinical trial comparing the flexible fibrescope and the Pentax Airway Scope® for awake oral tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia. 2016;71(8):908-914.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Laryngeal Cancer and Difficult Airway, run by Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Xia Shen (+862164377134, shenxiash@fudan.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
proportion of cases (time frame: During the awake flexible bronchoscopic intubation procedure). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07324317, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Jan 2026.