Korean J Anesthesiol.  2001 Apr;40(4):543-545. 10.4097/kjae.2001.40.4.543.

Fracture of Laryngeal Mask Airway during General Anesthesia

• Yoon SN
• Yang HS

• KMID: 2091608
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2001.40.4.543

Abstract

Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is an adjunctive airway device composed of a tube with a cuffed mask-like projection on the distal end, which is more practical than a face mask and less invasive than an endotracheal tube. It has the great economical advantage of being reusuable. Even though the LMA withstands a large number of sterilization cycles without undergoing damage, these sterilization cycles make the tear strength of the LMA lower. And it can be easily damaged during anesthesia or sterilization. We report a case of a fracture of the LMA during anesthesia probably caused by teeth as well as prolonged and repeated use.

Keyword

Complication: equipment failure; laryngeal mask airway fracture; Equipment: airway; laryngeal mask airway

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General*
Laryngeal Masks*
Masks
Sterilization
Tooth