GASTRIC REGURGITATION DURING GENERAL-ANESTHESIA IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS WITH THE LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY

Ninety patients, divided into three groups of 30, were investigated to determine the incidence of gastric regurgitation during general anaes thesia administered via the laryngeal mask airway in the supine, Trend elenburg and lithotomy positions. Fifteen minutes before induction of anaesthesia each patient swallowed a 75 mg methylene blue capsule. At the end of surgery, the LMA and the oropharynx were inspected for blui sh discoloration which was considered to be a sign of gastric regurgit ation. No blue dye was detected in the supine group but it was observe d in one patient in each of the other two groups.