A study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Airway Management, warns anesthesiologists of using supraglottic airways in patients in a prone position, Anesthesiology News reports.
Thomas O'Connor, MD, of Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kenmore Mercy Hospital, presented his research on the study.
With the support of his colleagues, he examined data from 152 elective prone procedures. In the study, researchers injected patients with 3 mg/kg of propofol while placing a laryngeal mask airway into the patient. Then, they placed patients into a prone position with the airwave facing downwards while maintaining anesthesia.
Here's what they found.
1. Researchers adjusted 12 percent of the patients' airways.
2. Four percent of the patients displayed secretions around the LMA shaft.
3. Researchers did not return any to the supine position.
4. Despite Dr. O'Connor performing approximately 1,200 cases and has only turned a patient to the supine position for intubation twice, he agrees with the industry consensus that the use of SGAs in prone procedures is "hazardous."