Safety and Efficacy of Laryngeal Mask Airways in Sinonasal Surgery

LMA's have been studied in a wide range of otolaryngologic procedures, and are generally safe and accepted by both anesthesia providers and surgeons alike, as a safe mode of airway management when delivering general anesthesia. In sinonasal surgery, however, there are more concerns regarding the use of LMA's for airway management. Due to the nature of sinonasal procedures, the patient is exposed to blood and secretions that may drip/flow from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx and potentially into the upper and lower airways if not protected adequately. Additionally, often times, manipulation of the patient's head throughout the procedure is encountered to improve operative positioning. As a result, both surgeons and anesthesiologists have been hesitant to utilize LMA's in these types of surgeries despite documented benefits of increased patient comfort, fewer hemodynamic fluctuations during induction of anesthesia, and better controlled emergence when using LMA's. Specific Aims The overall purpose of this study is to demonstrate the ability to provide safe and effective ventilation and airway protection with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) during sinonasal surgery, by directly comparing them to endotracheal intubation in a prospective randomized single-blind study. Aim 1: Analyze and compare the incidence and severity of airway contamination/aspiration of blood and secretions during sinonasal surgery and reveal any statistically significant difference between LMA and endotracheal intubation. Aim 2: Analyze and compare the incidence of various outcome measures including laryngospasm, bronchospasm, anesthesia time, recovery time, post-op pain medication requirements, and airway complications between LMA and endotracheal intubation. Aim 3: Analyze and compare both patient comfort and surgeon satisfaction after procedure between LMA and endotracheal intubation groups.