Comparison of the trapezius squeezing test and jaw thrust as indicators for laryngeal mask airway insertion in adults.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the trapezius squeezing test with that of the jaw thrust maneuver as clinical indicators of adequate conditions for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion in adults under sevoflurane anesthesia.


METHODS
One hundred adult patients of ASA physical status 1 or 2 undergoing minor surgical procedures were randomly allocated to the T (trapezius squeezing, n = 50) group or the J (jaw thrust, n = 50) group. The LMA was inserted immediately after the loss of response to trapezius squeezing or jaw thrust. Successful and unsuccessful attempts were recorded. An unsuccessful attempt was defined as the occurrence of coughing, gagging, gross purposeful movements, breath-holding, laryngospasm, or an SpO(2) < 90% during LMA insertion. Insertion time, end-tidal sevoflurane concentration, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate were recorded.


RESULTS
The incidence of successful attempts was significantly higher in the T than in the J group (48/50 vs. 36/50, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The trapezius squeezing test is a superior indicator of an adequate condition for LMA insertion compared to the jaw thrust maneuver in adults under sevoflurane anesthesia.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chul-Ho
CH
Chang
Soo-Hwan
SH
Kim
Yon-Hee
YH
Shim
Jae-Hoon
JH
Kim
Yang-Sik
YS
Shin