Comparison of the effect of LMA and ETT on ventilation and intragastric pressure in pediatric laparoscopic procedures.

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to compare classic laryngeal mask airway (LMA-C) with the endotracheal tube (ETT) in pediatric laparoscopic surgery to evaluate the intragastric pressures (IGP) using intragastric pressure monitoring. We also sought to investigate the related influence on respiratory parameters.

METHODS

The Ethics Committee of the Health Institution approved the study protocol. A total of 40 patients, ASA I-II, three and a half months to 12 years old were included in this randomized study. Two study groups were formed: the ETT group and the LMA-C group. A nasogastric tube was inserted following induction to evacuate any intragastric gas and fluid before application of either LMA-C or ETT. The change in IGP was measured with a transducer, which was attached to the nasogastric tube. IGP, peak airway pressures (PAP), SPO2 and ETCO2 were recorded. Repeated ANOVA measures were used to evaluate the change in IGP, PAP, SPO2 and ETCO2 times in both groups.

RESULTS

The change in IGP was not significant among the groups except at 15 and 30 minutes (P<0.05). The changes in PAP, SPO2, and ETCO2 levels were not significant.

CONCLUSION

The perioperative intragastric pressure evaluation failed to show any significant change in intragastric pressures and ventilation parameters due to the application of LMA-C in this study. We advocate LMA-C application as a feasible anesthetic device in pediatric laparoscopic surgery.