ProSeal Laryngeal Mask Airway Versus Cuffed Endotracheal Tube for Laparoscopic Surgical Procedures Under General Anesthesia: A Random Comparative Study

Context: The Proseal LMA(PLMA), which has been designed especially for positive pressure ventilation and protection against aspiration can act as an alternative to Endotracheal Tube (ETT) as an effective airway device for patients undergoing elective Laparoscopic surgeries.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of PLMA with ETT in patients undergoing Laparoscopic surgeries under general anaesthesia.

Settings And Design: A prospective, randomized study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital with 60 patients of ASA grade I/II undergoing elective Laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia. Ethical committee clearance and written consent taken. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups to the PLMA group (Group S) and to the ETT group (Group C) Heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MAP), ETCO values, intraoperative complications such as regurgitation- aspiration, and Postoperative complications such as nausea or vomiting, throat soreness and oral injuries were monitored.

Results: There was no difference demographically. Insertion success rate was 100% for both the groups. The mean increase in HR was seen all throughout the duration of the surgery to 8 % above the baseline in Group C and to 3% above the baseline in Group S. On comparing the MAP in Group C, there was a increased by 2.5% to 78.300 ± 14.2615 mmHg as compared to an increase by 5% to 76.233 ± 6.2072 mmHg in Group S. EtCO2 showed a rise in both groups after pneumoperitoneum, which returned to baseline values after completion of surgery. Gastric aspirate values showed no difference in each group. Post op complications were seen mainly in Group C with statistical significance.

Conclusions: A properly positioned PLMA is a suitable and safe alternative to ETT for airway management in adequately fasted, adult patients undergoing elective Laparoscopic surgeries.