Correlation of capilary and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure during inhalation anaesthesia with a laryngeal mask compared to a face mask

The value of the laryngeal mask versus the face mask was analized in two groups of thirty children each, in surgical procedures shorter than sixty minutes. Four measurements of end-tidal (ET-CO2<^*>) carbon dioxide pressure were taken in both groups: five minutes after the beginning of anesthesia, on surgical incision, fifteen minutes after the operation had started, and finally after the withdrawing of anesthesia, when the children had breathed 100% oxygen for five minutes. On surgical incision the capillary acid-base status for every child was also taken from finger. During anesthesia was also measured noninvasive blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin oxygen saturation.In each group we compared capillary and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure for every child. Between groups we compared the end-tidal carbon dioxide values on incision. Statistical analysis showed that values of ET-CO2<^*> are higher in patients with laryngeal mask and lower in children with face mask and airway.The difference between capillary and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure is narrower in the laryngeal mask group and wider in the