thiopental and Gastric-Dilatation

After obtaining Ethics Committee approval and informed consent, sixty children, ASA Grade 1 or 2 and aged six months to ten years, were randomly allocated to receive intermittent positive pressure ventilation through either a laryngeal mask or a tracheal tube. Inflation pressures were maintained below 20 cm H2O, and gas aspirated from the stomach via an orogastric tube over a one h period. No large volumes were aspirated and no differences were detected between the groups. We conclude that healthy children over the age of six months can be safely ventilated through the laryngeal mask airway without gastric distension.

Topics: Air; Anesthetics, Inhalation; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Child; Child, Preschool; Gastric Dilatation; Halothane; Humans; Infant; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation; Intubation, Intratracheal; Laryngeal Masks; Nitrous Oxide; Preanesthetic Medication; Pressure; Suction; Thiopental