title: The laryngeal mask airway: a survey of its usage in 1,096 patients.
abstract: The frequency and pattern of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) usage in a regional general hospital has been studied. Data were collected prospectively by means of a standardized record sheet which was completed at the time of anesthetic administration. During a 19-month period 10,150 patients underwent surgical procedures requiring general or regional anesthesia, of which 1,096 (men/ women: 791/305, ASA 3 or 4: 350, mean age: 64 years) were managed with the LMA. A clinically pattern airway was provided in 99.75% of occasions of whom 44.4% breathed spontaneously and 55.3% underwent positive pressure ventilation. The monthly frequencies of LMA usage increased significantly during the second year of the survey (25.1% vs 12.8%). Problems were recorded in 16.3% of cases: air leak 8.0%, laryngospasm 1.8%, desaturation (SpO2 < or = 90%) 1.8%, severe hypercarbia (PETCO2 > or = 50 mmHg) 1.0%, regurgitation 0.09%, sore throat 3.4%. No patient required intensive care management postoperatively. There were five cases of failed intubation managed with the LMA. This survey has shown that LMA has a well established role in anesthetic practice. Use of this device is equally safe and effective for both controlled and spontaneous ventilation in a wide range of starve patients undergoing most types of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Laikon General Hospital-Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Voyagis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Photakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kellari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kostanti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaklis
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Secha-Dousaitou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsakiropoulou-Alexiou
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies