Anesthesia for pediatric day-case dental surgery: a study comparing the classic laryngeal mask airway with nasal trachea intubation.

Abstract

To study sevoflurane inhalation general anesthesia using the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and nasal endotracheal (ET) intubation to maintain the airway in pediatric day-case dental surgery. A total of 171 children aged 2 to 7 years received elective day-case dental surgical procedure under general anesthesia. Children were randomly grouped into LMA groups (L) and nasal ET intubation group (N). In L groups, LMA was inserted after induction of anesthesia using 8% sevoflurane and were allowed to breathe spontaneously. Rocuronium and remifentanil were given intravenously during 8% sevoflurane induction by nasal ET intubation in the N group . The time of anesthetic induction, maintenance, recovery, surgical access, and bispectral index score were recorded. Postoperative nausea and vomiting and the incidence of adverse events during induction and recovery period were also recorded. The insertion time of LMA was significantly shorter than nasal ET (P < 0.05). The incidence of airway complications, the surgeons' access, and bispectral index were not different between the 2 groups. However, recovery time was significantly shorter in group L (P < 0.05). The incidence of sore throat and postoperative nausea and vomiting (P < 0.01) were much less in group L as well. Sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia through LMA is a safe and reliable method for pediatric day-case dental surgery.