BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tracheal intubation associated with airway operations can cause complications such as laryngospasm, bronchospasm and periods of reduced oxygen saturation. Such complications are frequently reported during adenotonsillectomies, a procedure that by nature increases the incidence of airway complications. The objective of this study was to compare the occurrence of respiratory problems during adenotonsillectomies while using either a disposable laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or an endotracheal tube (TT). METHODS: We evaluated 204 pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia for adenotonsillectomies. The patients were randomly allocated into either the tracheal intubation group (TT, n = 100) or the laryngeal mask airway group (LMA, n = 104). It was measured the level of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2) after the induction of anesthesia (SpO2-1), after establishing the operative field (SpO2-2), at the end of the surgical procedure (SpO2-3), three minutes after the removal of the contained breathing apparatus (SpO2-4) and upon admission to the post-anesthesia care unit (SpO2-5). All respiratory complications were recorded. RESULTS: The mean SpO2 values and standard deviations for the TT and LMA groups were as follows: SpO2-1: 98.9 ± 1.0 and 98.7 ± 0.8 (p > 0.25), SpO2-2: 97.4 ± 1.0 and 94.9 ± 4.3 (p < 0.001), SpO2-3: 96.9 ± 1.1 and 97.2 ± 1.1 (p = 0.037), SpO2-4: 91.7 ± 9.0 and 95.2 ± 2.2 (p < 0.001) and SpO2-5: 94.0 ± 2.1 and 95.8 ± 2.6 (p < 0.001), respectively. In the LMA group, 12 patients required some maneuvering to fix positioning and leaks during surgery. In four patients, the LMA had to be replaced with a TT. Respiratory complications were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Performing adenotonsillectomies in pediatric patients using a LMA resulted in a lower intraoperative SpO2, compared to using a TT. In some cases, the LMA had to be replaced with an endotracheal tube. Although the surgery may be performed with LMA, the use of a TT is preferred for safety.
Bronchial spasm; Intubation, Intratracheal; Laryngeal Masks; Laryngismus; Otolaryngology; Respiratory Aspiration
