Background: The influence of different head and neck positions on ventilation with the Ambu® AuraGain™ remains unevaluated in children. This study assessed the influence of different head and neck positions on ventilation with the AuraGain™ in paediatric patients.
Methods: In this prospective, randomised crossover study, children ≤7 years of age who were scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were enrolled. An AuraGain™ was placed in all patients; mechanical ventilation was performed using a volume-controlled mode with a tidal volume of 10 mL/kg. Respiratory rate was adjusted to maintain a ET CO2 of 35-40 mm Hg. The oropharyngeal leak pressure, expiratory tidal volume, peak inspiratory pressure, ventilation score and fibreoptic bronchoscopic view score were assessed for the neutral head and neck position, and then for the flexed, extended and rotated head and neck positions in a random order.
Results: Compared with the neutral position, the oropharyngeal leak pressure increased in the flexed position (P < .001), and decreased in the extended (P = .014) and rotated position (P = .002). The expiratory tidal volume and ventilation score were significantly reduced during flexion (all P < .005), and were comparable among the neutral, extended and rotated positions. The fibreoptic score improved in the extended and rotated position (all P < .001). Only the flexion ventilation score was lower compared with the neutral position (P = .014).
Conclusions: Clinically, the flexed head and neck positions negatively affected ventilation due to obstruction of the airway. Ventilation with AuraGain™ can be effectively performed with the head and neck in the neutral, extended and rotated position in paediatric patients.
Keywords: children; laryngeal masks; posture; ventilation.
© 2018 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.