Comparison of Supraglottic Airway and Tracheal Intubation on Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Among High-risk Geriatric Patients

Postoperative pulmonary complications are serious threat to surgical patients, especially to high-risk geriatric patients. There is evidence that laryngeal mask airway is associated with postoperative pulmonary complications in comparison with tracheal intubation. However, conclusion may reverse among frail population such as high-risk geriatric patients. Geriatric patients are often associated with loose mask seal due to physiological changes, which may increase chances of aspiration and pose challenges to intraoperative airway maintenance. It was reported that laryngeal mask airway causes more atelectasis among children, but no report among high-risk elderly. The investigators therefore propose this study to verify the non-inferior effect of laryngeal mask airway compared to tracheal intubation on postoperative pulmonary complications among high-risk geriatric patients undergoing elective non-cardiothoracic surgeries.