The influence of the laryngeal mask airway on the shape of the submandibular gland.

Abstract

Although transient sialadenopathy of the submandibular gland associated with insertion of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been described, the influence of the LMA on the submandibular gland is unknown. We measured the width and length of the submandibular glands by using ultrasonography in patients in whom the LMA was used. An increased intracuff pressure of the LMA, up to 150 cm H2O, was used in a prospective study of adult patients scheduled for elective surgery. The width of the gland increased with an increasing intracuff pressure from 50 to 100 cm H2O (P < 0.01) and 100 to 150 cm H2O (P < 0.01) but did not change from 0 to 50 cm H2O. There was no change in the length of the gland. We conclude that the submandibular gland was deformed by the insertion of the LMA. The findings in our study show that the submandibular triangle can be easily compressed by the insertion of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA). When inserting the LMA, it is important to consider that the LMA cuff may alter these tissues, which are situated between the lingual root and the submandibular triangle.