title: [Utility of COPA (cuffed oropharyngeal airway) in anesthesia for colonoscopies].
abstract: 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.
authors: Servicio de Anestesiología, Clínica Corachán, Barcelona.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Mayoral Rojals
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Casals Caus
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Baró Cabestany
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Aberasturi Fueyo
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Catá Ortells
authors: R
authors: R
authors: March Fierro
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Drudis Morell
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gregori Gubern
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Miguel Magro
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D010100:Oxygen; D015742:Propofol