Biomaterial Database

Nerve injury and the laryngeal mask airway. 2004

I A Bruce, and R Ellis, and N J Kay

Department of Otolaryngology, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, UK.

The laryngeal mask airway is a widely used, non-invasive, general purpose airway. We report the case of a temporary vocal cord palsy following the use of such an airway. The development of inappropriately high cuff pressures secondary to nitrous oxide diffusion into the cuff is proposed as the most likely cause. Knowledge of the existence of nerve injuries complicating laryngeal mask use is particularly important when counselling certain patients. Mandatory intraoperative cuff pressure monitoring should lower the risk of subsequent voice problems.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009609	Nitrous Oxide	Nitrogen oxide (N2O). A colorless, odorless gas that is used as an anesthetic and analgesic. High concentrations cause a narcotic effect and may replace oxygen, causing death by asphyxia. It is also used as a food aerosol in the preparation of whipping cream.	Laughing Gas,Nitrogen Protoxide,Gas, Laughing,Oxide, Nitrous
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011312	Pressure	A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Pressures
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D014826	Vocal Cord Paralysis	Congenital or acquired paralysis of one or both VOCAL CORDS. This condition is caused by defects in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, the VAGUS NERVE and branches of LARYNGEAL NERVES. Common symptoms are VOICE DISORDERS including HOARSENESS or APHONIA.	Laryngeal Nerve Palsy, Recurrent,Laryngeal Paralysis,Acquired Vocal Cord Palsy,Bilateral Vocal Cord Paresis,Congenital Vocal Cord Palsy,Paralysis, Unilateral, Vocal Cord,Paralysis, Vocal Cord, Unilateral,Partial Paralysis (Paresis) Vocal Cords,Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy,Total Vocal Cord Paralysis,Unilateral Paralysis, Vocal Cord,Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis,Unilateral Vocal Cord Paresis,Vocal Cord Palsy,Vocal Cord Palsy, Congenital,Vocal Cord Paralysis, Unilateral,Vocal Cord Paresis,Vocal Fold Palsy,Laryngeal Paralyses,Palsies, Vocal Cord,Palsies, Vocal Fold,Palsy, Vocal Cord,Palsy, Vocal Fold,Paralyses, Laryngeal,Paralyses, Vocal Cord,Paralysis, Laryngeal,Paralysis, Vocal Cord,Pareses, Vocal Cord,Paresis, Vocal Cord,Vocal Cord Palsies,Vocal Cord Paralyses,Vocal Cord Pareses,Vocal Fold Palsies
D017214	Laryngeal Masks	A type of oropharyngeal airway that provides an alternative to endotracheal intubation and standard mask anesthesia in certain patients. It is introduced into the hypopharynx to form a seal around the larynx thus permitting spontaneous or positive pressure ventilation without penetration of the larynx or esophagus. It is used in place of a facemask in routine anesthesia. The advantages over standard mask anesthesia are better airway control, minimal anesthetic gas leakage, a secure airway during patient transport to the recovery area, and minimal postoperative problems.	Laryngeal Mask Airway,Airway, Laryngeal Mask,Airways, Laryngeal Mask,Laryngeal Mask,Laryngeal Mask Airways,Mask, Laryngeal,Masks, Laryngeal