INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE CHANGES DURING ANEST HESIA - COMPARATIVE EFFECTSOF LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY AND ENDOTRACHEAL-TUBE INSERTION

Objective: To compare the effects of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and the tracheal tube (TT) insertion on intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in eye surgery. Study design: Prospective non-randomized study. Patients : Eighty patients scheduled for eye surgery under general anaesthesia were allocated into either a LMA group (n = 37) or a TT group (n = 43) . Methods: After induction of anaesthesia with propofol, vecuronium an d phenoperidine, either a TT or a LMA were inserted, IOP, heart rate ( HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured be:ore (T0) and aft er induction (T1), after TT or LMA insertion (20 s : T2, 6 min : T3), and before extubation (T4). Results: The HR, MAP and IOP increased sig nificantly at T2 (compared to T1 but not to T0) in the TT group, for a short time, whereas no significant changes occurred in the IMA group. Conclusion: LMA insertion does not elicit significant haemodynamic or IOP changes. Conversely, the TT increases HR, MAP and IOP, These chan ges can be deleterious in case of emergency surgery for perforating ey e injuries. The LMA can be recommended as an alternative to TT in eye surgery, provided security rules are followed, because of the risk of displacement of LMA during surgery.