Distal oesophageal pH measurement in children during general anaesthesia using the laryngeal mask airway, tracheal tube and face mask.
BACKGROUND
Distal oesophageal pH was measured during controlled ventilation in children with the laryngeal mask airway (LMATM), tracheal tube (TT) and face mask (FM).


METHODS
Fifty-six children scheduled for inguinal surgery with a standardized general anaesthetic technique were randomly allocated to receive LMA (n=21), TT (n=18) or FM (n=19). A 14 Fr pH probe was placed into the distal oesophagus and pH values were measured over 1 min at 2-min intervals during the first 20 min of anaesthesia.


RESULTS
The median values of pH were 4.4 (3.5-5.5), 4.2 (3.3-4.9), 4.1 (3.2-5.1), 4.1 (3.3-5.0), 4.0 (3.3-4.9), 4.0 (3.4-5.1); 4.2 (3.3-5.1), 4.2 (3.6-5.0), 4.2 (3.5-5.0), 4.2 (3.5-5.2), 4.2 (3.5-5.0), 4.1 (3.5-5.0) and 4.2 (3.6-5.0), 4.2 (3.8-5.8), 4.1 (2.8-5.2), 4.2 (3.3-5.1), 4.2 (3.4-5.1), 4.3 (3.4-5.1) for LMA, TT and FM groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in the median pH values, within and between the groups (P > 0.05). We conclude that there is no difference in gastro-oesophageal reflux, when using a LMA, TT or FM during controlled ventilation in anaesthetized children.
Ozlü
O
O
Department of Anaesthesia, SSK Ankara Children Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ozlu@ato.org.tr
Türker
A K
AK
Ozgün
G
G
Soykan
I
I
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000601:surgery