Use of Laryngeal Mask Airway in Prone Position

Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been used widely since 1988 for spontaneous and controlled ventilation anaesthesia for variety of surgical procedures. Usually its use is limited to patients undergoing surgery in supine position. Traditionally general anaesthesia for surgical procedures requiring prone position consists of induction and tracheal intubation in supine position on a trolley, and then patient is turned prone on the operation table and positioned carefully. Even though this approach is familiar to most anesthesiologist, it is time consuming and requires shift of manpower from other tasks to properly position the patient.As an alternative to the traditional approach we have used classic laryngeal mask airway in different patients needing prone position for surgery. Though few studies have been published in the literature where use of laryngeal mask airway in prone position was reported, but they have been used mostly in spontaneously breathing patients for short duration surgeries. We have used classic laryngeal mask airway successfully in patients who need controlled ventilation during short, moderate and even long duration surgeries in prone position. In the prospective audit of 100 patients we have found prone insertion of laryngeal mask airway to considerably simplify the management of this group of patients, without compromising the safety.