Effects of proseal laryngeal mask airway cuff inflation on caro- tid flow in pediatric population during sevoflurane induction

Introduction The study examined the effects of cuff inflation of a ProSeal Laryngeal Mask Airway on the carotid bulb during sevoflurane induction in pediatric population. The hemodynamic parameters measured were: systolic and diastolic pressure, heart rate and sovraortic flow trough measurements of bilateral carotid cross sectional area, velocity of blood flow, resistance index, flow acceleration, systolic and diastolic peak velocity, all at the level of the carotid bulb before and after cuff inflation. Materials and Methods The measurement of some hemodynamic parameters (cross-sectional area carotid artery, resistance index, carotid flow acceleration, sistolic and diastolic peak velocity) were performed bilaterally before and after laryngeal mask cuff inflation by ultrasound at the level of the carotid artery bulb during sevoflurane induction. Results Results showed a significant variation of systemic hemodynamic parameters before and after laryngeal mask cuff inflation while no significant variation was obtained for sovraortic hemodynamic blood flow. Conclusion The results demonstrated that in children during sevoflurane induction, differently from the only study described in literature as case report on a single adult patient, laryngeal mask cuff inflation does not reduce or change the carotid flow.