Background: General anesthesia (GA) is considered the gold standard for external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery. There are few reports about laryngeal mask airway (LMA) use in DCR surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the use of endotracheal intubation (ETT) vs LMA for airway management during DCR surgery.
Methods: Ninety patients were randomized to two groups. In the group C, ETT and in the group L, classic LMA was used to maintain and protect the airway during the procedure. Hemodynamic data before, after intubation or LMA insertion and after skin incisions were recorded. Coughing and straining at the end of anesthesia and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were recorded.
Results: In the group L, the mean arterial pressure and the heart rate after LMA insertion and after the skin incisions were significantly lower than the group C (p < 0.05). Furthermore, incidence of coughing, straining at the end of anesthesia and PONV was lower in the group L than the group C (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: LMA can be used in external DCR, to decrease the hemodynamic changes, to decrease coughing, straining at the end of anesthesia and the incidence of PONV.