Gastro-oesophageal reflux with the laryngeal mask during day-case gynaecological laparoscopy.

We have evaluated if breathing spontaneously via a laryngeal mask airway is associated with a higher risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux compared with positive pressure ventilation via a laryngeal mask airway in 40 patients undergoing day-case gynaecological laparoscopy. Patients were allocated randomly to receive either positive pressure ventilation or breathe spontaneously via a laryngeal mask airway. Using continuous oesophageal pH monitoring, three patients in the ventilated group and one in the spontaneous breathing group had gastrooesophageal reflux (P = 0.29). We found no evidence to suggest that breathing spontaneously via a laryngeal mask airway increased the risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux compared with positive pressure ventilation in this group of patients.