British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol 76, Issue 3 456-458, Copyright © 1996 by The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
G. N. Morris and R. Marjot
We studied the effect of deflating the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) cuff in
situ on recorded respiratory tidal ventilation in 30 spontaneously
breathing anaesthetized patients. Another 26 patients were studied in whom
the LMA cuff was undisturbed. Deflation of the cuff to a pressure of 22 mm
Hg (below an estimated arteriolar perfusion pressure of the pharyngeal
mucosa), by removing approximately 50% of the recommended cuff injection
volume, had a minimal effect on tidal ventilation (P = 0.9). This manoeuvre
may have a role in minimizing transmitted cuff pressure on the adjacent
pharyngeal mucosa. Complete cuff deflation, however, resulted in a 17%
decrease in mean tidal ventilation (P < 0.05), with two patients (6%)
demonstrating a substantial leak around the cuff and airway obstruction.
The practice of complete cuff deflation during the recovery period from
anaesthesia cannot be recommended.
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Laryngeal mask airway performance: effect of cuff deflation during anaesthesia
Anaesthetic Department, Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, Avon
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