Korean J Anesthesiol.  2007 Oct;53(4):430-434. 10.4097/kjae.2007.53.4.430.

The Effect of Compressed Air Jet Cleaning on the Elimination of Postoperative Residual Protein from a ProSeal(TM) Laryngeal Mask Airway

• Choi WJ
• Kim YH
• Kyoung MK

• KMID: 2236589
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2007.53.4.430

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The reusable ProSeal(TM) laryngeal mask airways (PLMA's) have the potential to act as a vector for the transmission of prion diseases such as variant Creutzveldt-Jacob disease. This study tested the hypothesis that supplementary compressed air jet cleaning facilitates the removal of protein deposits on PLMA's after surgery.
METHODS
After clinical use, thirty PLMA's were randomly allocated to be washed by hand and with an autoclave (134 degrees C for 40 min) (group 1, n = 15), or by hand, autoclave and compressed air jet cleaning (1 min) (group 2, n = 15). In both groups, protein deposits were detected on PLMA's by erythrosine staining. A staining score designated as nil, mild, moderate, and severe was given to each site (outer, inner surface and edges of the cuff, airway and drain tube, finger strap) according to the percentage of stained surface area. The severity of staining was compared for masks prior to use and after cleaning the mask.
RESULTS
Despite the cleaning of masks, the staining score worsened on the outer, inner surface and edge of PLMA's in both groups (P < 0.05); however, a similar pattern was observed on each part of a cleaned PLMA for both groups.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that compressed air jet cleaning for 1 min did not improve the removal of protein deposits on PLMA's after surgery.

Keyword

air; equipment contamination; erythrosine; laryngeal masks; proteins

MeSH Terms

Compressed Air*
Equipment Contamination
Erythrosine
Fingers
Hand
Laryngeal Masks*
Masks
Prion Diseases
Erythrosine