General anesthesia for developmentally disabled dental care patients: a comparison of reinforced laryngeal mask airway and endotracheal intubation anesthesia.

Providing dental care for developmentally disabled patients who require general anesthesia is challenging for both and dentists and anesthesiologists. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two anesthetic methods for dental care. The researchers retrospectively analyzed morbidity data following anesthesia using either a reinforced laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or endotracheal intubation anesthesia for a two-year time period. The subjects were developmentally disabled patients receiving dental care. Statistical analyses were by unpaired student t-tests and chi-square tests. Patients were who anesthetized with a reinforced laryngeal mask airway had a significantly shorter recovery period and lower postanesthetic complication rates when compared to patients undergoing endotracheal intubation anesthesia. Although hypoxemia (SPO2 < 90%) during dental care occurred more frequently when using the reinforced laryngeal mask airway, the difference was not significant. Nausea and vomiting were the major complications in the postanesthetic care unit and after discharge. When complication rates were compared in the two patient groups, nausea and vomiting were significantly higher during postanesthetic care and after discharge in the intubated group. In conclusion, reinforced laryngeal mask airway provides general anesthesia with less risk of side effects for developmentally disabled patients undergoing dental care.