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.”
More articles on anesthesia:
Guess what the Surgeon General declared a bigger problem than cancer?
10 statistics, facts for anesthesiologists on race, ethnicity, bias & burnout
Anesthesiologist Dr. Paul Hubbell named a ‘Leading Physician of the World’ — 4 key thoughts
