Effects of tracheal intubation on ventilation with LMA Classic (TM) for percutaneous dilation tracheostomy

Aim. The classic laryngeal mask airway (cLMATM) can be used in place of an endotracheal tube (ETT) as the ventilatory device during percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT). We aimed to investigate the possible loss of effica- cy of cLMATM after tracheal intubation. Methods. Severity of laryngeal lesions and efficacy of cLMATM were determined in two groups of thirty patients each who were switched from ETT ventilation to cLMA ventilation for PDT after a short (<4 days) or a long (>12 days) tracheal intubation. Results. cLMATM allowed us to carry out PDT in all patients. Short tracheal intubations resulted in mild lesions of the larynx and mild gas leaks during cLMATM ventilation. Longer intubations caused moderate-to-severe (P<0.05) lesions of the larynx and larger gas leaks. A single complication occurred in one patient post-procedurally and in no patient at 6-month follow-up. Conclusion. Efficacy of cLMATM was maintained after short tracheal intubation and decreased after long intubation.