Pressure support ventilation with the laryngeal mask airway: a method to manage severe reactive airway disease postoperatively

Abstract

The use of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and a bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP®) machine is described in a postoperative thoracotomy patient with reactive airway disease. The LMA was placed to avoid reintubation of the trachea after a double lumen tube was no longer necessary. Placement in an awakening patient and positive-pressure ventilatory support were well tolerated and did not trigger a bronchospastic response. The patient was able to cough and breathe deeply with the LMA while receiving ventilatory assistance in the postanaesthesia care unit (PACU). The LMA is a therapeutic option to tracheal reintubation in patients who need postoperative ventilatory support after one-lung anaesthesia. © 1995 Canadian Anesthesiologists.