Artificial Intelligence for Early Identification of Difficult Airways in Rural Anaesthesia: Opportunities for Perioperative Triage and Safety

Unanticipated difficult airways remain among the most feared perioperative challenges, with consequences extending across all phases of perioperative care. Despite advances in airway devices and training, difficult laryngoscopy occurs in 4%–10% of cases, difficult intubation in 5%–6% and failed intubation in 0.05%–0.35% [1]. In emergency settings, major peri-intubation complications occur in 28% of cases. Airway complications account for up to 46% of anaesthesia-related deaths in Australia [1]. These events can be devastating in rural hospitals where ICU support is limited or unavailable. This letter highlights emerging evidence and proposes AI-assisted airway assessment as a potential area for future rural anaesthesia research, rather than a recommendation for clinical adoption...