The impact of topical lidocaine and timing of LMA removal on the incidence of airway events during the recovery period in children: a randomized controlled trial

Background The timing of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal remains undefined. This study aimed to assess the optimal timing for LMA removal and whether topical anesthesia with lidocaine could reduce airway adverse events. Methods This randomized controlled trial assessed one-to-six-year-old children with ASA I-II scheduled for squint correction surgery under general anesthesia. The children were randomized into the LA (lidocaine cream smeared to the cuff of the LMA before insertion, with mask removal in the awake state), LD (lidocaine application and LMA removal under deep anesthesia), NLA (hydrosoluble lubricant application and LMA removal in the awake state) and NLD (hydrosoluble lubricant application and LMA removal in deep anesthesia) groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of irritating cough, laryngeal spasm, SpO2 Results Each group included 98 children. The overall incidence of adverse airway events was significantly lower in the LA group (9.4%) compared with the LD (23.7%), NLA (32.6%), and NLD (28.7%) groups (P=0.001). Cough and laryngeal spasm rates were significantly higher in the NLA group (20.0 and 9.5%, respectively) than the LA (5.2 and 0%, respectively), LD (4.1 and 1.0%, respectively), and NLD (9.6 and 2.1%, respectively) groups (P=0.001). Glossocoma incidence was significantly lower in the LA and NLA groups (0%) than in the LD (19.6%) and NLD (20.2%) groups (PP Conclusions LMA removal in the awake state after topical lidocaine anesthesia reduces the incidence of postoperative airway events. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR-IPR-17012347. Registered August 12, 2017.