Comparison of the LMA-ProSeal and LMA-Classic in children.
BACKGROUND
The LMA-ProSeal is a new laryngeal mask airway with a rear cuff and drainage tube that allows a higher seal pressure than the LMA-Classic for the same intra-cuff pressure, and it permits drainage of gastric secretions and access to the alimentary tract. The LMA-ProSeal can be used in children but it does not have a rear cuff. This study compared the LMA-ProSeal and the LMA-Classic in children for ease of insertion, airway sealing pressure and fibre-optic visualization.


METHODS
Sixty ASA I-II children undergoing herniorrhaphy, orchiopexy or myringotomy were included. The patients were randomly assigned to size 2 LMA-Classic trade mark or size 2 LMA-ProSeal groups for airway management. We assessed success rates at first attempt of insertion, airway sealing pressure, fibre-optic position, success rates of gastric tube placement and postoperative blood staining of the device, tongue-lip-dental trauma and hoarseness.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference between the two groups for the success rates at first attempt of insertion, airway sealing pressure and fibre-optic position. Gastric tube insertion was successful in 90% of cases in the LMA-ProSeal group. The LMA-Classic had a higher rate of postoperative blood staining, but there was no tongue-lip-dental trauma or hoarseness in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that ease of insertion and airway sealing pressure are similar between the LMA-ProSeal and the LMA-Classic in children.
Department of Anaesthesia, Kanagawa Children's Medical Centre, 2-138-4 Mutsukawa, Minami-ku, Yokohama 232-8555, Japan. epi@yk.rim.or.jp
H
H
Shimbori
K
K
Ono
T
T
Miwa
N
N
Morimura
M
M
Noguchi
K
K
Hiroki
D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery