A comparison of usage of the laryngeal mask UniqueTM in denticulate and edentulate geriatric patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM Mask ventilation in geriatric and edentulous patients can be ineffective or even impossible because of the shape inside the patients' cheeks. For patients for whom a mask cannot be used for long, the use of a laryngeal mask can ease the administration of anesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the use of the laryngeal mask UniqueTM in denticulate and edentulate patients aged over 65 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study included patients according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists I-III classification, aged 65 years or more. The patients were divided into two groups: a dentulous group (n = 33) and an edentulous group (n = 33). The success of the first attempt of insertion, ease of insertion, time taken to insert, and oropharyngeal leak pressure were measured. After insertion of the laryngeal mask UniqueTM, a researcher who was unaware of whether the patients had teeth or not conducted an oropharyngeal leak test. RESULTS The success rate of inserting the laryngeal mask UniqueTM on the first attempt was higher in the dentulous group than in the edentulous group. Ease of insertion, time taken to insert, oropharyngeal leak pressure, and laryngopharyngeal morbidity were similar for each group. CONCLUSION In this study, successful insertion of the laryngeal mask UniqueTM was higher in dentulous than in edentulous patients. We conclude that this effect could have important implications for anesthesiologists managing edentulous geriatric patients with supraglottic airway devices.