We analyzed 25 cases of propofol(PPF) anesthesia using a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in order to establish a method of safe outpatient anesthesia for the dental treatment of the handicapped. Subjects discussed here are gender, age, coexisting problems, medication, reasons for general anesthesia, dental treatments, the time needed to treat, general assessment, premedication, induction techniques, dosage of midazolam, dosage of PPF, the stability of airway management with LMA, infusion volume, body temperature under anesthesia, anesthesia period, period of time from stopping propofol till discharge, and states of patients after discharge. Results were that 1) airway management with LMA was secure in 76% of cases(19/25); 2) mean time from stopping propofol untill discharge was 70.8±16.3 minutes; 3) no problems occurred after discharge; 4) patient's helpers preferred outpatient anesthesia with short postoperative period of time. We conclude that 1) the airway management with LMA is non-invasive and reliable if gastric contents are removed; 2) PPF is suitable for outpatient anesthesia because fewer post-anesthetic problems occur than with sevoflurane; 3) anesthesia with FLMA and PPF is suitable for outpatients in dentistry not adjusted to admission.
