A potential new technique for awake fibreoptic bronchoscopy--use of the laryngeal mask airway.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) for awake diagnostic fibreoptic bronchoscopy.

DESIGN: A prospective study of 50 patients presenting for awake diagnostic bronchoscopy. All patients were premedicated with pethidine and atropine. The LMA was inserted under topical anaesthesia with sedation and the quality of the subsequent laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy was assessed for both patient and bronchoscopist.

SETTING AND PATIENTS: All patients over the age of 18 years who presented to Cairns Base Hospital for diagnostic bronchoscopy were asked to participate in the study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main factors determining the suitability of the technique were insertion rate, ease of the laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy, oxygen saturation and patient acceptance.

RESULTS: The LMA was inserted successfully in all patients and the bronchoscopy subsequently performed. The first time insertion rate was 72%. The mean oxygen saturation during the procedure was 98% and patients tolerated the technique.

CONCLUSIONS: The potential advantages of the LMA are that it is simple to insert, avoids nasal trauma and facilitates direct laryngoscopy. It allows respiration to be monitored and oxygen to be administered. The technique may have a role to play in patients whose respiratory function is in a critical condition, but confirmation of this awaits comparative trials. A period of training is recommended in anaesthetised patients before the LMA is used for awake diagnostic bronchoscopy.