Work

A Difficult-Airway Prediction Tool for Emergency Airway Management: The HEAVEN Criteria

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study validated the HEAVEN criteria as a tool for predicting difficult airways during emergency rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in a large air medical cohort of 2,419 patients. Each HEAVEN criterion was independently associated with lower first-attempt success, and overall intubation success decreased as more criteria were present (from 94% with none to 43% with five or more). The criteria demonstrated high negative predictive value, supporting their usefulness for identifying difficult airways in emergency RSI settings.

Source: Evidence to Action Official Journal of MDCalc

DOI: 10.65357/001c.160259

Authors: Kylie Prentice, Ross Fleischman

Institution: Harbor–UCLA Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Airway Management and Intubation Techniques

Subfield: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W7155217017