New developments in the management of the paediatric airway: cuffed or uncuffed tracheal tubes, laryngeal mask airway, cuffed oropharyngeal airway, tracheostomy and one-lung ventilation devices

Abstract

The use of a cuffed endotracheal tube should no longer be limited by the age of the child but by his or her clinical condition (e.g. poor lung compliance). To prevent pharyngeal damage, overinflation of the cuff of the laryngeal mask airway should be avoided by inflating it with the minimum volume required to maintain an effective seal and by monitoring intracuff pressure if nitrous oxide is used. Percutaneous tracheostomy in children is still in the experimental stage. New and older devices to perform one-lung ventilation in children are also described.