Incidence of cognitive errors in difficult airway management: an inference human factors study from the Pediatric Difficult Intubation Registry
Authors' conclusion
Cognitive errors occurred in nearly 20% of paediatric difficult airway encounters and were linked to increased complications.
Study context
- Population
- Paediatric difficult airway management cases with at least three intubation attempts, Pediatric Difficult Intubation (PeDI) registry
- Participants
- 2,801 cases
- Outcome
- Overall incidence of cognitive errors
Methodological detailsregistry analysis, human factors study
- Registry analysis
- Human factors study
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cognitive errors
Cases with cognitive errors (487/2801)
17.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Complications with ≥1 cognitive error
| aOR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| At least one cognitive errorIndependently associated | 1.86 (1.53–2.27) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Severe complications with multiple cognitive errors
| aOR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple errors | 2.48 (1.24–4.94) | P = 0.01 | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Cognitive error subtypes
- Fixation errors (most common)
- 11.5%
- Omission bias
- 5.9%
- Overconfidence bias
- 4.5%
Clinician factors
- Non-anaesthesiologist clinicians had the highest odds of cognitive errors
Original publication
Incidence of cognitive errors in difficult airway management: an inference human factors study from the Pediatric Difficult Intubation Registry. Br J Anaesth. Published 29 May 2025. doi:10.
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