Laryngeal mask airway as an alternative to face mask during paediatric fiberoptic bronchoscopy

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the laryngeal mask airway [LMA] as an alternative to face mask [FM] during fiberoptic bronchoscopy in pediatric patients. Fifty pediatric patients scheduled for fiberoptic bronchoscopy [FOB] were divided into two groups Group 1 using LMA and group 2 using face mask for the insertion of fiberoptic bronchoscope through the bronchoscope T-tube adaptor. All patients were pre-medicated and received general anesthesia. It was found that heart rate [HR] was increased and oxygen saturation was decreased during FOB insertion. The insertion time, number of trials and the need for muscle relaxants were higher in face mask group than in LMA group. The incidence of complications as hypoxia, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, coughing was insignificantly higher in FM group