BACKGROUND: Complications arising from airway management represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are systematically created documents that summarise knowledge and assist the delivery of high-quality medical care by identifying evidence that supports best clinical care. OBJECTIVE: Using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II instrument, we aimed to evaluate the methodological rigour and transparency of unanticipated difficult airway management CPGs in adults. DESIGN: Using PUBMED without language restrictions, we identified eligible CPGs between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 2019. All versions of a CPG were included as independent guidelines to assess improvements over time or the methodological limitations of each version. CPGs-related obstetrics or paediatrics or the management extubation in cases of difficult airway were excluded. RESULTS: Fourteen CPGs were included. Of the six domains suggested by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II instrument, ‘applicability’ had the lowest score (23%) and ‘scope and objectives’ had the highest score (88%). The remaining domains (stakeholder involvement, editorial independence, rigour of development and clarity of presentation) had scores ranging between 56 and 81%. Overall, the highest scored CPG was the Difficult Airway Society 2015. CONCLUSION: Future updates of CPGs for difficult airway management in adults and severely ill patients should consider more emphasis on the applicability of their recommendations to real clinical practice.

This study aimed to establish factors associated with delayed surgery in patients with proximal femoral fracture and to assess patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after surgery including all-cause 6-months mortality. This was a single-center, observational, prospective cohort study that included patients with a proximal femur fracture. We described patients’ HRQoL measured by EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS) questionnaire and perioperative complications (including mortality) 6 months after surgery. We included 163 patients with a mean age of 80.5 years, the majority were women and 76.1% reported falling from their own height. The mean time between hospital admission and surgery was 8.3 days (SD 4.9 days) and the mean hospital stay was 13.5 days (SD 10.4 days). After adjustment, the principal factor associated with delayed surgery was adjournment in surgery authorization (3.7 days). EQ-5D-5L index values and the VAS score at 1 month after surgery were 0.489 and 61.1, at 3 months were 0.613 and 65.8, and at 6 months 0.662 and 66.7 respectively. Mortality at 6 months of follow-up was 11% (18 patients). In conclusion, administrative authorization was the strongest associated factor with delayed time from hospital admission to surgery. HRQoL of patients with a proximal femoral fracture improved 6 months after surgery.Trial registration:NCT04217642.