Isoflurane alone versus small dose propofol with isoflurane for removal of laryngeal mask airway in children-a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety of laryngeal mask airway removal using two different deep anaesthesia techniques in paediatric patients. METHODS: The Randomized Control Trial was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2012 to November 2013, and comprised patients aged 2-10 years scheduled for infraumbilical surgeries. Anaesthesia was induced with sevoflurane and later it was maintained by is oflurane, oxygen and nitrous oxide. The laryngeal mask airway was removed in the intervention group-I at 0.4 minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane with propofol 1mg/kg. In the control group-II, it was removed at 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane alone. SPSS 19 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients, there were 25(50%) in each of the two groups. Overall, there were 46(92%) males and 4(8%) females. Incidence of airway obstruction and teeth clenching was significantly higher in group-II (p<0.05 each). Emergence duration was also significantly increased in group-II compared to group-I (p=0.001). The Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit stay timing was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal mask airway removal under deep anaesthetic technique of low-dose propofol with isoflurane was found to be associated with minimal adverse airway events than isoflurane alone in paediatric patients.