Difficult bag-mask ventilation is reported in approximately one in 10 PICU patients undergoing tracheal intubation. Given its association with adverse procedure–related events and oxygen desaturation, future study is warranted to improve preprocedural planning and real-time management strategies.

The primary outcome is the occurrence of either specific tracheal intubation–associated events (hemodynamic tracheal intubation–associated events, emesis with/without aspiration) and/or oxygen desaturation (< 80%). Factors associated with perceived difficult bag-mask ventilation were found using univariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression identified an independent association between bag-mask ventilation difficulty and the primary outcome.

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