ABSTRACT

It is more difficult to perform bag-mask ventilation in edentulous patients than in patients with intact dentition. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) provides a better alternative to the standard face mask if the facial contours of the patient are not suited for the standard face mask. We aimed to compare these two different LMAs in edentulous geriatric patients.

Edentulous patients aged ≥65 years of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to Supreme group (n=30) and Unique group (n=30). Success of first insertion attempt, ease and time of insertion and oropharyngeal leak pressure were recorded.

The success rate of the first insertion attempt was higher in the Supreme group than in the Unique group (86.6 and 73.3%, respectively; p=0.04). Time of insertion was similar (10.04 s and 11.87 s, respectively) and insertion was easy in 90% and 100% of patients, respectively. Oropharyngeal leak pressures were measured as 20.56-cm H2 O and 17.10-cm H2 O for LMA Supreme™ and LMA Unique™, respectively.

The efficacy and safety in both groups were comparable in edentulous geriatric patients during short surgical procedures. Even the success rate of insertion with both was lower than that mentioned in the literature; the success of insertion at the first attempt was superior with the LMA Supreme™ in our edentulous study group.

Keywords: Laryngeal mask, edentulous, geriatrics