Comparison of proseal laryngeal mask and endotracheal tube for airway safety in pediatric strabismus surgery.

OBJECTIVES To compare proseal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) with an endotracheal tube (ET) for airway safety, maintained ease of insertion, and hemodynamic stability in pediatric strabismus surgery (PSS). METHODS This prospective-randomized clinical study was carried out in the Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Turkey between April 2008 and July 2009. Eighty American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I-II children, weight 10-30 kg, aged between 1-12 years undergoing PSS were selected. The anesthesia was induced with 8% sevoflurane, 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture, and a neuromuscular blockade with 0.5 mg/kg atracurium in both groups. After a sufficient dosage of anesthesia, the patients were randomized into 2 groups (Group P: PLMA, n= 40, Group T: ET, n=40) and an airway management device; either a PLMA or ET was inserted. The number of placement attempts, placement success or failure, success or failure of a gastric suction tube placement during the procedures and perioperative complications were assessed. RESULTS Thirty-eight patients (95%) in the PLMA group, 39 (97.5%) patients in the ET group were successfully placed with a PLMA and ET on the first attempt (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the hemodynamic parameters, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and complications. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that PLMA may offer an alternative airway to ET wherein positive pressure ventilation was the preferred choice for children undergoing PSS.