Influence of Oropharyngeal Airway on the Incidence of Airway Complications Following LMA Removal Under Deep Anaesthesia in Children

Laryngeal Mask Airway has been used in paediatric anaesthesia since the 1990's. Clinical practice in paedeatric anaesthesia for Laryngeal Mask Airway removal varies and there is no standard of care.

In children removing the Laryngeal Mask Airway under deep inhalational anaesthesia has some advantages compared to awake, but may be associated with higher rate of complications when Laryngeal Mask Airway is removed in supine compared to lateral position. On the other hand deep anaesthesia may cause airway obstruction due to reduction in tone of upper airway muscles in some patients. An oropharangeal airway may prevent this. This aspect had not been studied before and represent a gap in literature.

Study Hypothesis:

Airway complications associated with Laryngeal Mask Airway removal under deep anaesthesia are same with or without insertion of an oral airway. Alternate hypothesis is that airway complications be less if an air way is inserted at the end of anaesthesia.

Objective:

The present study was designed to observe any difference in immediate complication after removal of LMA in supine head down position under deep anaesthesia with or without insertion of an oro-pharyngeal airway. Airway complications that we will observe are desaturation <92%, stridor, excessive secretions, laryngospasm, retching, vomiting, coughing, trauma to the soft tissues and damage to the teeth.