Postoperative sore throat in children and the laryngeal mask airway.

Postoperative sore throat is a minor complaint after general anaesthesia of multifactorial aetiology. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and endotracheal tube (ETT) on postoperative sore throat in children. We hypothesized that the incidence of sore throat would be less after the use of the LMA. This was a randomized, single-blind study of 112 patients of age 3 to 12 yr undergoing minor peripheral surgery. The groups were similar, except that airway maintenance was either with an LMA or ETT. After induction of anaesthesia with O2, N2O and halothane, an LMA or ETT was inserted. Anaesthesia was maintained with O2, N2O and halothane. At the end of surgery, the ETT was removed in the operating room before airway reflexes had returned. The LMA was removed after the patient's airway reflexes had returned in the recovery room. On the first postoperative day, the parents were contacted and asked whether or not their child had had a sore throat. If a sore throat had been present, the parents rated the discomfort as mild, moderate or severe. The groups were similar with respect to age, weight, sex and duration of procedure. The overall incidence of sore throat was 9%. The difference between the groups (LMA 13% vs ETT 5%) was not statistically significant. All of the reported sore throats were rated as mild. In conclusion, postoperative sore throats after minor paediatric surgery is uncommon. If it does occur, it is mild and the incidence is unaffected by the choice of an LMA or ETT.