FIBEROPTIC BRONCHOSCOPY UNDER GENERAL-ANESTHESIA USING THE LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY

The laryngeal mask airway was used to facilitate fibreoptic bronchosco py under general anaesthesia in 140 adult patients. Following placemen t, the position of the mask was observed through the fibreoptic bronch oscope. Three different positions were identified. In 120 patients (86 %) the concave surface of the mask faced the larynx directly with or w ithout some unfolding of the epiglottis. In 17 patients (12%) the lary ngeal mask appeared to be at an angle facing one pyriform fossa and in two patients the tip of the mask lay anterior to the arytenoids. No p roblems with ventilation or maintenance of an acceptable airway were e ncountered. In one patient repositioning of the laryngeal mask was nec essary to allow the passage of the bronchoscope. One patient developed laryngospasm and required tracheal intubation.