title: A survey of practice patterns in the use of laryngeal mask by pediatric anesthesiologists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laryngeal mask is frequently the airway device of choice in routine general anesthesia for many procedures in children. Several studies have described the use of laryngeal masks in unconventional situations. This survey was undertaken to assess how laryngeal masks are being used by pediatric anesthesiologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 40-question electronic survey using SurveyMonkey™ was sent to 2740 members of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA). This survey assessed the age, work environment, types of practice, and training levels, as well as clinical situations in which the practitioners use laryngeal masks across different pediatric age groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred and forty-three (27.1%) responses were obtained. The use of laryngeal mask increased as the patient age increased in nearly every queried situation. The practitioners routinely utilize laryngeal masks in a variety of challenging scenarios, such as in patients with a recent upper respiratory infection, in the difficult airway, remote locations, and long-duration surgeries. A small percentage of pediatric anesthesiologists use laryngeal masks in laparoscopic surgery and prone position procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric anesthesiologists are using laryngeal masks in both routine and challenging/unconventional situations. Although many of the uses for laryngeal masks are not explicitly stated in the manufacturer guidelines, literature and current practice support the use of laryngeal masks in several of these scenarios.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiffmiller
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schoenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Saint Barnabas Health System, Livingston, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tewfik
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: airway; laryngeal mask airway; pediatric anesthesia; supraglottic airway; survey