High BMI, Gender Play a Role in Laryngeal Mask Airway Failure

Anesthesiologists from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have identified risk factors for "failed" intraoperative laryngeal-mask airways, according to a Medscape report.

The use of a laryngeal mask airway under general anesthesia has become more popular as success rates have risen. However, LMAs still carry some risks to patients, including gastric aspiration, postoperative sore throat and cough. More concerning risks involve airway obstruction and laryngospasm, which can lead to life-threatening hypoxemia, according to the report.

The researchers obtained prospective observation perioperative data on 15,795 adult patients who underwent general anesthesia with a planned LMA from 2006-2009 in a tertiary care center. The primary outcome was LMA "failure," defined as any acute airway event requiring LMA removal and endotracheal tube placement.

The researchers identified four independent risk factors for a failed LMA: poor dentition, an elevated BMI, being male and intraoperative surgical table rotation.

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