The Laryngeal Mask Airway: Is It Safe for Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy?

Jo Reid, CRNA, MSNA; Paul N. Austin,CRNA, PhD; Ricardo E. Rodriguez, PhD

Jo Reid, CRNA, MSNA Trident Medical Center in Charleston, SC
Paul N. Austin,CRNA, PhD Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at Texas Wesleyan University.
Ricardo E. Rodriguez, PhD Texas Wesleyan University

Abstract

Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy (T&A) is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures performed in the United States. Traditionally an endotracheal tube is used to secure the airway in these cases. However, the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is also being used for pediatric T&As. This review explores the question: In pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, does the laryngeal mask airway compared to the endotracheal tube provide a safe and effective means of airway management?

While all evidence sourcesconcluded it was possible to use an LMA for pediatric T&A, not all of the investigators fully supported its use in this setting. The authors of six of the seven evidence sources determined that the LMA was an overall safe and viable alternative for this procedure, but one of the RCTs indicated the issues with kinking and visualization and called for further study.

Future investigation should compare different types of laryngeal mask airways to determine superiority in terms of surgical access, visualization,and reduced displacement or kinking with insertion of the mouth gag.

Author Biographies

Jo Reid, CRNA, MSNA, Trident Medical Center in Charleston, SC

Jo Reid, CRNA, DNAP, is the chief cardiac nurse anesthetist at Trident Medical Center in Charleston, SC. The author was a student in the Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia program at Texas Wesleyan University at the time this article was written.

Paul N. Austin,CRNA, PhD, Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at Texas Wesleyan University.

Paul N. Austin, CRNA, PhD, is a professor, Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program at Texas Wesleyan University.

Ricardo E. Rodriguez, PhD, Texas Wesleyan University

Ricardo E. Rodriguez, PhD, is a professor of pharmacology in the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia at Texas Wesleyan University

References

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The Laryngeal Mask Airway: Is It Safe for Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy?

Abstract

Author Biographies

References

Keywords