Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the cardiovascular effects related to tracheal extubation or laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal in children.
Methods: Sixty children, ASA physical status 1, 4-10 yr of age, undergoing minor elective surgery (inguinal hernia and phimosis) were allocated randomly to have their surgery performed with endotracheal intubation (Group ET, n = 30) or LMA (Group LMA, n = 30) and were studied for cardiovascular responses related to extubation or LMA removal. Changes in heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured before and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 min after tracheal extubation or LMA removal when the patients were awake.
Results: The maximal changes in HR, SBP and DBP were less in Group LMA than in Group ET during the observation period (HR; 12 vs 26, SBP; 14 vs 28, DBP; 9 vs 13, median, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Laryngeal mask airway removal elicited less haemodynamic change than tracheal extubation in paediatric patients.