Flexible upper videoendoscopy through a modified endoscopy mask in infants and young children.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is considered an essential diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in the pediatric population. Although generally safe, EGD has the potential for airway complications. We routinely use general anesthesia to carry out EGD in patients younger than 10 years. In the past, these patients received oxygen either through a nasal cannula or were intubated; both modalities have drawbacks and may be associated with complications. Here we report our experience using a modified endoscopy mask, devised primarily for bronchoscopy, for upper endoscopy in children under general anesthesia.


RESULTS
Two hundred forty children (122 boys and 118 girls) participated in the study. Age range was 7 to 135 months (mean 60.7 +/- 34.4 months). All patients maintained a stable hemodynamic status throughout the procedure. Ventilation was satisfactory in 230 patients. It was difficult in 9 patients, and external airway maneuvers had to be applied. Ventilation was impossible in only 1 patient (10 months old), and endotracheal intubation was performed. There were no procedure-related complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The modified endoscopy mask is efficient and safe and should be recommended for routine use for upper endoscopy under general anesthesia in children older than 6 months.
Somri
Mostafa
M
Department of Anesthesiology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
Gaitini
Louis
L
Yanovski
Boris
B
Tome
Riad
R
Resnikov
Igor
I
Karsh
Karam
K
Shaoul
Ron
R
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019723:Endoscopes; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D012119:Respiration