Baska Mask in Patients undergoing Elective Breast Surgeries under General Anaesthesia: An Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Supraglottic airway devices are newer safer alternative devices to endotracheal intubation during General Anaesthesia. The Baska mask is a novel third generation Supraglottic Airway Devices (SADs) with an added advantage of silicon self-recoiling, non inflatable cuff. Postgraduate trainees will need hands on training in all available airway securing devices and have experience in using the Baska mask and also complications associated with it. Aim: To assess the successful insertion of Baska mask by postgraduate trainees, and its placement in 50 low-risk female patients posted for breast surgeries, and also to determine the correct placement using fibreoptic bronchoscope. Materials and Methods: The present study was an observational study conducted at Kidwai Cancer Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India from January 2019 to January 2020 in which a total of 50 study participants were selected, and Baska mask was inserted by postgraduate trainees in all patients. The placement of the mask was assessed by fibreoptic bronchoscope using Brimacombe scoring. Ease of insertion, time required for insertion and attempts required for the insertion of the mask was assessed along with postoperative complications. Student’s t-test and Chisquare test were used to study the parameters on continuous scale and categorical scale, respectively. Results: The mean age of the study population was 46.9±7.8 years. The overall success rate for device insertion was 96%, while the success rate for the first insertion attempt was 60%. The device was ‘easy’ to insert among 48% of patients, and mean time required for insertion was 20.54±10.7 sec. The mean airway leak pressure was 39.17 cmH2 O. Postoperative complications were notably less with sore throat seen in 20.8%, and the incidence of other side-effects like laryngospasm was nil. Conclusion: Baska mask can be successfully and safely used by postgraduate trainees as a tool for securing the airway. As learning curve for Baska mask is short, it can be used safely for training postgraduate trainees and to improve their expertise in using the Baska mask.