title: Distal oesophageal pH measurement in children during general anaesthesia using the laryngeal mask airway, tracheal tube and face mask.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, SSK Ankara Children Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ozlu@ato.org.tr
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozlü
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Türker
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozgün
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soykan
mesh_terms: 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