Regurgitation of gastric contents during general anaesthesia using the laryngeal mask airway

Abstract

We have investigated the incidence of regurgitation of gastric contents during general anaesthesia administered via a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or face mask and Guedel airway in 56 patients with no risk factors for regurgitation. Patients swallowed a gelatin capsule containing methylene blue 10 min before induction of anaesthesia. Fibreoptic laryngoscopy in the LMA group or conventional laryngoscopy in the face mask group was performed at the end of surgery. Dye was observed within the laryngeal mask in seven of 28 patients (25%). No patients in the face mask-Guedel airway group regurgitated dye (P = 0.005). There was no evidence of aspiration of dye.