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Published on: January 17, 2011
The laryngeal mask airway in infants and children
1Department of Anesthesiology, National Cancer Center, Koyang, Kyunggi-do, Korea.
Insights
Smaller laryngeal mask airway (LMA) sizes in pediatric patients lead to increased airway obstruction and complications during positive pressure ventilation (PPV). Larger LMA sizes are associated with better performance and fewer issues in children.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Airway Management
Background:
- Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) is a common supraglottic airway device.
- Effective positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is crucial in pediatric anesthesia.
- Optimizing LMA size selection is vital for pediatric airway management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different laryngeal mask airway (LMA) sizes.
- To assess LMA performance during positive pressure ventilation (PPV).
- To compare outcomes in paralyzed pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- 158 pediatric patients (<30 kg) underwent LMA insertion and PPV.
- Fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) graded airway obstruction.
- Ventilation parameters (tidal volume, airway pressure, leakage) were measured.
Main Results:
- LMA placement success was 98%.
- Smaller LMAs (sizes #1 and #1.5) showed significantly more epiglottic obstruction and higher leakage.
- Complications decreased with increasing LMA size.
Conclusions:
- Smaller LMAs in pediatric patients cause more airway obstruction and ventilation leaks.
- Larger LMA sizes are associated with better outcomes and fewer complications.
- Careful LMA size selection is critical for pediatric PPV.
Purpose:
To compare the effectiveness of various laryngeal mask airway (LMA) sizes and their performance during positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in paralyzed pediatric patients.
Methods:
Pediatric patients (n = 158), < 30 kg, ASA 1 or 2 were studied. After paralysis, an LMA of the recommended size was inserted and connected to a volume ventilator. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) was performed and graded: 1, larynx only seen; 2, larynx and epiglottis posterior surface seen; 3, larynx, and epiglottis tip or anterior surface seen--visual obstruction of epiglottis to larynx: < 50%; 4, epiglottis down-folded, and its anterior surface seen--visual obstruction of epiglottis to larynx: > 50%; 5, epiglottis down-folded and larynx not seen directly. Inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes (V(T)), and airway pressure were measured by a pneumo-tachometer, and the fraction of leakage (F(L)) was calculated. In 79 cases, LMA was used for airway maintenance throughout surgery.
Results:
Successful LMA placement was achieved in 98% of cases: three failures were due to gastric insufflation. For LMA # 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5, FOB grades [median (range)] were 3(1-5), 3(1-5), 1(1-5) and 1(1-3) respectively. In smaller LMAs, the cuff more frequently enclosed the epiglottis (P < .001). F(L) of LMA # 1 was higher than those of LMA # 1.5 and LMA # 2.5 (P < .05), and F(L) of LMA # 2 was higher than that of LMA # 2.5 (P < .05). In the 79 patients, the number of patients experiencing complications decreased as LMA size increased (P < .05).
Conclusion:
Use of the LMA in smaller children results in more airway obstruction, higher ventilatory pressures, larger inspiratory leak, and more complications than in older children.
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