Korean Journal of Anesthesiology  2001;40(4):543-545

doi:10.4097/kjae.2001.40.4.543

Fracture of Laryngeal Mask Airway during General Anesthesia.

Shi Ne YOON 1 ; Hong Seuk YANG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Complication: equipment failure; laryngeal mask airway fracture; Equipment: airway; laryngeal mask airway

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is an adjunctive airway device composed of a tube with a cuffed mask-like projection on the distal end, which is more practical than a face mask and less invasive than an endotracheal tube. It has the great economical advantage of being reusuable. Even though the LMA withstands a large number of sterilization cycles without undergoing damage, these sterilization cycles make the tear strength of the LMA lower. And it can be easily damaged during anesthesia or sterilization. We report a case of a fracture of the LMA during anesthesia probably caused by teeth as well as prolonged and repeated use.