Medicolegal aspect of voice analysis in prolonged endotracheal intubation versus laryngeal mask airway

ABSTRACT

Voice print analysis has been utilized in many different situations. The present study was designed to compare the changes of voice analysis in the first 24 hours after insertion of laryngeal mask airway [LMA] with those produced by endotracheal intubation. By using spectrum analyzer, we measured the frequency and the intensity level before and after anaesthesia at different intervals up to 24 hours from full recovery. There were significant differences between LMA and endotracheal intubation in the 2 variables [frequency and intensity]. Also the result demonstrated that both LMA and endotracheal intubation affected the voice print, but LMA caused little vocal changes than tracheal intubation and versus 24 hours after full recovery. The study suggest that the voice print must not be taken except after 24 hours from general anaesthesia