Optimal size selection of laryngeal mask airway in Malaysian female adult population.
- Author:
Rao AS
;
Yew AE
;
Inbasegaran K
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Laryngeal Masks/*standards;
Malaysia
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2003;58(5):717-722
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:Malay
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The summary of various studies done looking at size selection of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in adults is that, selection based on sex is appropriate, and that both sizes 4 or 5 are adequate for adult females. However, in our local population these sizes may be too large especially the size 5 for adult females. OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal size of LMA in Malaysian female adults. METHOD: 135 ASA 1 or 2 adult female patients coming for elective surgery, requiring general anaesthesia suitable for LMA insertion were randomised into 3 groups to receive either a size 3, 4 or 5 LMA. Optimal size of the LMA was assessed based on 4 parameters, the number of attempts at placement, the oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP), fibre optic score and the percentage of the vocal cords seen. RESULTS: The 3 groups were demographically similar. There was no difference in the 3 groups in terms of number of attempts of placement, OLP and fibre-optic score. The percentage of vocal cords seen with the size 3 LMA was significantly less than for the size 4 and size 5 (p = 0.009). For the size 5 LMA group in 10/45 patients, the size 5 LMA was too big making it incorrectly positioned after successful insertion and in another 3/45 patients it was difficult to pass the size 5 LMA past the open mouth during insertion. There were no such problems with the size 3 or 4 LMA groups. CONCLUSION: The optimal size of LMA for the female Malaysian adult is size 4.
