Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) Proseal in airway management during tracheal resection and reconstruction. Subject and method: The study was conducted from January 2009 to January 2014 at No.108 Military Central Hospital. Subjects included 8 patients with upper tracheal tumor (the distance from the vocal cord to the tumor was less than 2 cm), aged from 18 to 72, undergoing tracheal resection and reconstruction using LMA Proseal (LMAP) combined with distal tracheal intubation intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV). Result: LMAP was placed successfully in all cases and ventilation was adequate for gas exchange. Fifteen minutes after LMAP insertion, peak and mean inspiratory pressure were maintained at 28 +/- 12.6, and 17.5 +/- 4.3 cm H2O, respectively. The tidal volume and expired volume were 545 +/- 50.7 and 505.5 +/- 70.8 ml respectively
the air leak was 10 percent. The hemodynamic and respiratory parameters did not vary excessively during intra- and post-operation. Seven patients were extubated early and safely at the end of the operation. One patient was ventilated longer and was weaned and extubated safely in the next morning. No complications such as regurgitation, bleeding, tumor removing or barotrauma were noted. Conclusion: LMAP was useful for performing IPPV in difficult-airway patients with upper tracheal tumor.