Comparison of intravenous induction with propofol to vital capacity breath induction with sevoflurane for insertion of laryngeal mask airway

Background: The increasing emphasis on day care anaesthesia has led to the greater use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as an alternative to tracheal intubation for short procedure surgeries. Satisfactory insertion of LMA after induction of anaesthesia requires sufficient depth for suppression of airway reflexes. This study was performed to compare intravenous induction with Propofol to vital capacity breath induction with sevoflurane for LMA insertion. Methods: In this study 100 ASA 1 and ASA 2 patients aged between 20 and 40 years, undergoing short surgical procedures lasting 30 to 60 minutes, were included. The P group received Inj. Propofol 2.5 mg/kg IV whereas the S group received Sevoflurane 8% vital capacity breaths. After the loss of eyelash reflex, which was considered the end point of induction, the LMA insertion was attempted by an anaesthesiologist blinded to the induction technique. The data that was recorded was induction time with both the drugs, characteristics of LMA insertion, hemodynamic responses and complications if any. The number of attempts at insertion was also noted. Results: Induction time was 60.1±8.98 secs for propofol induction and 72.8±15.86 for sevoflurane vital capacity breath induction which was found statistically significant. The insertion conditions were found excellent in 88% in the propofol group and 90% in the sevoflurane group which was comparable. There was no statistically significant difference found in the time or characteristics of insertion between both the groups. No incidence of complications was found in both groups. Conclusions: Induction with sevoflurane vital capacity breath inhalation compared equally with induction with intravenous propofol for LMA insertion in patients undergoing short surgical procedures.