Application of Laryngeal Mask in Pediatric anesthesia

Abstract

Air way management is one of the most important skills in the field of anesthesia and intensive care and inability to secure the air way is one of the most common reasons for major anesthesia-related complications .By far the most important recent contribution to air way management has been the introduction of the laryngeal mask air way. The invention of the LMA by Dr. Archie Brain has had a significant impact on the practice of anesthesia, management of the difficult air way and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Since pediatric patients are more likely to develop intra operative and post-operative air way complications , the LMA can be used frequently for pediatric patients to secure the air way especially during failed tracheal intubation, radiotherapy, radiological investigation as CT and MRI, burn dressing changes, dental anesthesia, otological surgeries, tonsillectomy, nasal surgeries, ophthalmic surgeries, neonatal resuscitation and thoracic surgeries. There are several types of the laryngeal mask such as the classic LMA, the disposable LMA, the proseal LMA , the intubating LMA , the flexible LMA , LMA supreme and LMAC-Trach . The LMA has many advantages over a face mask during anesthesia as it achieve more effective air way seal ventilation is easier and less fatigue, hypoxemia is less common , remote air way management is possible, surgical access is improved and compression on facial structure is avoided and it has many advantages over endotracheal tube such as easy and rapid placement, less change in intra ocular pressure during insertion, lower frequency of cough and lower incidence of sore throat.