A Comparative Study between Standard Weight‑Based Technique and Pinna Size-Based New Technique for Classic Laryngeal Mask Airway Size Selection in Pediatric Population

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is a non-invasive supraglottic airway device designed to maintain the airway,which sits outside of and creates a seal around the larynx. In clinical practice, the most commonly used method for sizeestimation is the weight-based method. However, this may not be suitable due to lack of standardization in pediatric patients,emergencies, overweight, etc. Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of the new pinna size-basedmethod for the estimation of LMA size.Materials and Methods: A total of 100 pediatric patients, aged under 15 years, undergoing ambulatory surgeries, belonging toAmerican society of anesthesiologists (ASA) Grades I and II, were randomly divided into two groups Weight-based and Pinnasize-based estimation. Parameters such as number of attempts and change of size required were monitored.Results: LMAs were inserted in both the groups in the first attempt. However, LMAs needed to be exchanged in 2% of casesin Group A and in 16% of cases in Group B.Conclusion: Pinna size-based estimation for the size of LMA is a convenient and feasible alternative to the traditional weightbased estimation.