Back ground: Securing a safe airway is always the prime priority of an anaesthesiologist. Among the various methods to achieve this, laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation enjoys a major role. Although it is very efficient in maintaining a patent airway, it has its own array of complications

Aim: The present study was designed to assess the suitability of LMA as a substitute to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in pediatric patients undergoing short surgical procedures under general anesthesia posted in 11 months period.

Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 100 patients aged between 5 to 15 years, scheduled for various surgeries to which general anaesthesia was administered. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of the following two groups of 50 each as group-L with LMA insertion and controlled ventilation and group-T with Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation and controlled ventilation. The haemodynamic changes as noted in changes of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) observed during endotracheal intubation and LMA insertion were compared and studied and postoperative sore throat incidence was observed after 8, 24, 48 hours.

Results: There was a significant rise in HR in both the groups but the rise in endotracheal group was more significant and sustained, i.e., a rise of 16.2% from baseline after endotracheal intubation,14.2% after 1 min, 9.4% after 2 min and 4.8%after 3 min. while that of LMA group was 4.4%, 2.8%, 1.2%and 0.4%. The SBP at the same time intervals were 11.9%, 11.9%, 7.9%, 2.1% above baseline in group T and 3.6%, 5.2%, 5.3%, 5.4% below baseline for group L. The DBP were 11.2%, 8.9%, 5.6%, 2.1% above baseline in group T and in 3.2%, 5.1%, 5.6%, 6.2% below baseline for group L. The incidence of post operative sore throat was 8% in group L and in 20% in group T.

Conclusions: Laryngeal mask airway is a valuable and better alternative to endotracheal intubation in securing the airway, especially in pediatric patients in whom pressor response to endotracheal intubation is detrimental.

Keywords: Laryngoscopy, Endotracheal intubation, Haemodynamic changes, Sore throat.