[Utility of COPA (cuffed oropharyngeal airway) in anesthesia for colonoscopies].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the usefulness of the cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA), a new device for airway control, in 45 patients scheduled for colonoscopy.


METHODS
The patients were anesthetized with propofol and the COPA was applied following the manufacturer's recommendations. Positive pressure ventilation was provided at first, and later the patients were allowed to breathe spontaneously.


RESULTS
The mean dose of propofol needed to place the COPA correctly was 2.3 +/- 0.3 mg.kg-1. "Free hands" anesthesia was possible in 43 procedures (96%). Placement had to be attempted several times in five patients (11%) before adequate ventilation was achieved. Two patients (4%) had to be switched to a smaller or larger size COPA. In two others (4%), the technique was abandoned because of inadequate ventilation. No hemodynamic changes were observed after placement, although systolic blood pressure tended to increase slightly during colonoscopy, while heart rate decreased. Spontaneous ventilation was possible in all cases and respiratory frequency and end-tidal CO2 increased significantly during colonoscopy. No cases of laryngospasm or sore throat were observed, although 10 patients (22%) coughed upon emergence from anesthesia.


CONCLUSIONS
The COPA is a new alternative to intubation or other methods for controlling the airway during short procedures, making "free hands" anesthesia possible in most cases. Provided contraindications are respected, the number and seriousness of complications seems to be minimal.
Mayoral Rojals
V
V
Servicio de Anestesiología, Clínica Corachán, Barcelona.
Casals Caus
P
P
Baró Cabestany
L
L
Aberasturi Fueyo
T
T
Catá Ortells
C
C
March Fierro
R
R
Drudis Morell
R
R
Gregori Gubern
P
P
Miguel Magro
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015742:Propofol
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D010100:Oxygen; D015742:Propofol