Prospective development and validation of an objective classification for difficult facemask ventilation: the MASCAN score
Authors' conclusion
The MASCAN score is an objective, data-driven classification for difficult facemask ventilation with clearly defined thresholds that may improve airway documentation and inform future airway management.
Study context
- Population
- Patients requiring tracheal intubation for ear, nose and throat or maxillofacial surgery; facemask ventilation attempted with pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation after induction
- Participants
- 400 patients
- Comparison
- MASCAN model vs MASCAN score
- Outcome
- Difficult facemask ventilation documented as an alert in the patient health records
Methodological detailssingle-centre, Independent observer assessed potential indicators of difficult facemask ventilation
- Single-centre
- Independent observer assessed potential indicators of difficult facemask ventilation
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Discrimination for difficult facemask ventilation
| Test or model | AUC (95%CI) |
|---|---|
| MASCAN model | 0.96 (0.93-0.98) |
| MASCAN score | 0.94 (0.91-0.98) |
AUC (95%CI)
MASCAN model0.96 (0.93-0.98)
MASCAN score0.94 (0.91-0.98)
- Difficult facemask ventilation incidence
- 43 (10.8%)
Original publication
Prospective development and validation of an objective classification for difficult facemask ventilation: the MASCAN score. Anaesthesia. Published 5 June 2026. doi:10.
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