Complete separation of the tube from the mask during removal of a disposable laryngeal mask airway

Abstract

Purpose: To describe a complication of the disposable laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Clinical features: A 23-yr-old woman underwent a wide local excision of a chest wall melanoma and sentinel node biopsy under general anesthesia. During use of a single-use LMA-Unique™, the airway tube became completely separated from the distal mask (backplate). No sequelae resulted from failure of the airway apparatus. The LMA was examined by LMA North America, and the company stated "no definitive explanation can be made to explain the cause for separation of the airway from the backplate." Conclusion: Although the use of the LMA is associated with rare and minimal complications, each airway should be carefully inspected before its use for loss of integrity resulting from sterilization or for defects in manufacturing.