Questions from the patient

They have appliances that are easier to insert than an endotracheal tube, but when I look at them they are much larger, and I don't think a sore throat for 10 days would be unusual. If it isn't getting better I would mention it to my doc for sure.

I tell all my patients with stitches to keep them moist with an antibacterial ointment to minimize scarring, and don't pick at the area, although it is likely to itch as it heals.

They often use a LMA which is a laryngeal mask airway. It is a way to get an airway without the ET tube. It has a mask attached. A sore throat for 10 days warrants at least a call to the doc. Feel better soon!

I agree that your throat should not be sore for 10 days if a LMA was used. Is your voice normal. Versed is a powerful drug that causes that amnesia even if you were awake and responsive. It hard to try to remember when you cant...........so sorry. good luck.......

Actually Zacs, if you've ever seen one of these LMA's you'll understand why you have a sore throat, their beasts!!!

Why use a LMA rather than an ET tube?

I've not seen it done in our OR.

They sometimes use an LMA instead of intubating. Sounds like maybe he changed his mind and intubated you? Maybe because of the drugs he gave you effected your respirations too much? Who knows what could have caused the change of plans. I've heard of using Neosporin because it helps prevent scars. Also eat lots of fruits and vegies and Vit E is good for skin healing.

I recently had a bilateral reduction mammoplasty. I had not ever had surgery before and I have some questions that one who works the OR might know. Before surgery, the anesthesiologist came in and told me he would not be intubating me, that they had some sort of appliance that would keep my tongue from blocking my airway... fine... that the surgery would take 3-4 hours... fine... and asked if I would like something to take the edge off my anxiety (Yes! But I warned him, I'm a cheap drunk... lightweight, I'm sure).

I remember almost nothing else until waking up in recovery 3 hours later with a VERY sore throat. GOD BLESS THAT NURSE WHO STOOD THERE WITH ICE CHIPS. I remember being wheeled somewhere at somepoint, but nothing of the OR except seeing the mask coming down over my face and being told "this smells like a beach ball".... (what an odd thing, I thought...)

Its been 10 days. I still hurt when swallowing at times. Likely I was intubated after all? Did not wake up enough to talk for 3 hours once in the recovery room, then left for home after being awake enough to sit up for an hour or so, I think. I dont really even remember coming home. All pretty normal? Just wondering about it all...Also - anything I can do to mimimize scarring?

After my reduction my plastic surgeon recommended using antibacterial ointment until the suture line was healed, and after that rubbing vitamin E oil onto the scars each day for 6-12 months. Worked pretty well, unless you get keloid scars like me (puffy raised ones) but even then it's just in the crease (I'm so PO'd that they weren't doing purse-string incisions back then, grrrrrr). Ointments like Mederma are also supposed to help, and also those silicone sheets that you place against your scar - forget what they're called but they sell ones specificly for breast reduction.

I'd agree to see your doc so they can at least look into your throat and make sure something wasn't injured using the LMA. An ETT is smaller and probably wouldn't hurt as much, so you probably weren't intubated. I had total general anesthesia with my reduction, but it took 6 hours, and it was 9 years ago, so I got to stay overnight. I really can't remember much about that night in the hospital, though, so they must have given me lots of Versed in the OR, LOL. I'm just glad I was there because I had no desire to eat and they had me on full IV fluids so at least I didn't feel sick from dehydration.

I would agree - a 10 day sore throat ia a long time for any type of airway. Anyone else seen the other LMA-tyoe of airway?? It has a big inflatable bulb and resembles a combitube.

LMA is soft. Wouldn't think the sore throat would last that long. Anyone here actually had one inserted that would know??

an LMA is simply an oral airway, the large bulbous part at the base holds up the tongue, therefore reducing airway obstruction. It was designed simply to take the place of the face mask during the shorter cases and therefore free the anaesthesia providers hands up.... they are easy to introduce and do not actually sit far down the throat. A little discomfort afterwards is to be expected but ten days is far too extreme. I doubt this would be the cause.

an ETT endotracheal tube is admittedly smaller than a LMA however as the name suggests it sits in the trachea and is passed through the vocal cords to obtain an adequate airway. It is usually used in the majority (some would say all) of laparoscopic surgery and in most long operations. I would imagine that this would have been used during your surgery. A sore throat for up to 2 weeks may be expected, unusual but possible. You must be paralysed, have local anaesthesia to the cords or be very deeply anaesthetised prior to intubation, otherwise you may have some vocal cord spasms (laryngospasm)this can often be a cause of further sore throat.

although a LMA may be the preferred option of the anaesthetist, due to ease of insertion and minimisation of complications, there is always the possibility of problems maintaining the airway and the need to change techniques and intubate the patient at any time during the procedure if necessary for safety. safety of the patient always comes before preferences!