Abstract
We compared the frequency of using laryngeal mask airways (LMAs) during general anesthesia for these 3 years in order to reevaluate the clinical usefulness of LMAs, The frequency was decreased from 19% in 1992 to 8% in 1995. We had experienced some definite disadvantages such as hypercardia due to insufficient ventilation, high risk of aspiration due to inflated stomach, and the necessity of skillful removal of LMAs after awaking from anesthesia to prevent vomiting. Furthermore tracheal intubations without muscle relaxants were possible relatively easily in sevoflurane anesthesia. From these viewpoints LMAs were considered to be used less and in more older children (from 70 months to 77 months) and longer time surgery (from 43 min. to 28 min.) during the latter period in Shizuoka Children's Hospital. We concluded LMAs should be applied in more selected cases to prevent complications.
