The Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) as an alternative to airway management in mentally retarded patients during dental procedures

AbstractBackground: To evaluate the possibility of airway management using a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) during dental procedures on mentally retarded (MR) patients and patients with genetic diseases. Design: A prospective pilot study. Setting: University Hospital. Methods: A pilot study was designed to induce general anaesthesia for dental procedures in 15 mentally retarded patients, with airway management using a laryngeal mask airway (LMA). The parameters assessed during the pilot study included ease of LMA insertion and its seal, inspiratory pressures with controlled ventilation, visibility of the operating field and surgical comfort, recovery from anaesthesia, LMA tolerability and postoperative complications. Results: LMA insertion was successful in all of the patients, operating field visibility was good in most patients, as was tolerability, and awakening was uneventful. Serious postoperative complicationsaebleeding, prolonged coughing and eating disordersaewere not observed. Conclusions: In this pil...