COMPARISON OF THREE INSERTION METHODS OF LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY WITH REGARD TO POSTOPERATIVE PHARYNGOLARYNGEAL COMPLICATIONS

DR. GANGA NAGALAKSHMI; Dr. THANGJANGUL KHONGSAI

Volume : VIII, Issue : II, February - 2018

COMPARISON OF THREE INSERTION METHODS OF LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY WITH REGARD TO POSTOPERATIVE PHARYNGOLARYNGEAL COMPLICATIONS

Dr. Ganga Nagalakshmi, Dr. Thangjangul Khongsai

Abstract :

BACKGROUND : Postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications are commonly reported following laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion. After induction of anaesthesia, the airway structures fall backwards under the influence of gravity. This may contribute to difficulty in placement of an LMA. External airway alignment by lifting the larynx during insertion of an airway may avoid collision of the airway with laryngeal structures AIM: To compare pharyngolaryngeal complications after either conventional technique of lma insertion versus insertion with semi–inflation cuff and a method including semi–inflated cuff and external laryngeal lift. METHODS : 90 patients were selected and divided into three groups Group 1 – deflated cuff Group 2 – pre–inflated cuff with pressure of 20 cm H20 Group 3 – pre–inflated cuff with external laryngeal lift(ELL–PIC). Assessment for pharyngolaryngeal complications was made at the time of LMA removal and again 1, 2 and 24 hours. RESULTS : Sore throat was the commonest complication in all groups with an average of 43% of cases.No great difference in overall incidence of pharyngolaryngeal complications among the groups, except for blood on LMA.Blood on LMA was observed less frequently in G3 (6%) compared with G1(16%) and G2(20%).CONCLUSION: The external larynx lift technique was associated with a lower incidence of blood on the airway as seen during removal.The time required for insertion of LMA by external laryngeal lift technique is equivalent to the classical technique, suggesting that it can serve as an alternative technique for LMA insertion.