Cardiovascular Response and Post-operative Sore Throat Incidence in Laryngeal Mask Airway in Comparison with Endotracheal Intubation

Introduction: Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal intubation are recognized as hazardous phase in the management of patient during operative procedure, LMA causes less cardiovascular response than intubation, we undertook a study to compare haemodynamic responses and postoperative sore throat in healthy anaesthetized patients after lma insertion and endotracheal intubation. Materials and Methods: 60 patients of either sex, age group of 18-70 years American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II posted for elective surgeries, to whom general anaesthesia was administered were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups (n = 30 each) for Group I appropriate size LMA was inserted to secure airway; Group II airway was secured with laryngoscopy and intubation with appropriate size endotracheal tube. The haemodynamic parameters assessed in terms of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was recorded at pre-operative, soon after intubation, after 1 min after 2 min after 3 min and post-operative sore throat after 8 h. 24 h and 48 h after endotracheal intubation or LMA insertion. The variations are compared between the groups and within the group for statistical significance. Results: A statistically significant rise in HR, SBP and DBP and post-operative sore throat was seen in both the groups, subsequent to endotracheal intubation or LMA insertion. Mean maximum increase was statistically more after endotracheal intubation than LMA. The duration of statistically significant pressor responses was also longer in endotracheal intubation and more incidence of post-operative sore throat with endotrachel intubation. Conclusion: LMA is a better alternative to the endotracheal tube with an attenuated pressor response to insertion and securing the airway and a low incidence of post-operative sore throat with LMA.