Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T13:14:04.686Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Repeat autoclaving does not remove protein deposits from the classic laryngeal mask airway

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2005

L. Bannon
Affiliation:
Cairns Base Hospital, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Australia
J. Brimacombe
Affiliation:
Cairns Base Hospital, James Cook University, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Australia
T. Nixon
Affiliation:
Cairns Base Hospital, James Cook University, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Australia
C. Keller
Affiliation:
Leopold-Franzens University, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Innsbruck, Austria
Get access

Extract

Summary

Introduction: We tested the hypothesis that repeated autoclaving removes protein deposits from the classic laryngeal mask airway (LMA). Methods: Twenty previously used LMAs were hand washed, machine washed, dried, autoclaved and randomly allocated into four equal-sized groups for repeat autoclaving on 0 (control), 1, 2 and 3 occasions. After the final autoclave cycle, the LMAs were immersed in a protein-staining solution, rinsed, dried and a high-resolution digital image taken of the dorsal and ventral surfaces. The severity of staining was scored by two blinded observers. Results: All LMAs were stained. There was no reduction in staining with repeat autoclaving. Conclusions: Repeat autoclaving does not remove protein deposits from the LMA.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© 2005 European Society of Anaesthesiology

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Will RG, Ironside JW, Zeidler M. A new variant of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in the UK. Lancet 1996; 347: 921925.Google Scholar
Haltia M. Human prion diseases. Ann Med 2000; 32: 493500.Google Scholar
Hilton DA. VCJD – predicting the future? Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2000; 26: 405407.Google Scholar
Miller DM, Youkhana I, Karunaratne WU, Pearce A. Presence of protein deposits on ‘cleaned’ re-usable anaesthetic equipment. Anaesthesia 2001; 56: 10691072.Google Scholar
Smith G. Variant CJD. What you need to know at present. Royal Coll Anaesth Bull 2001; 302304.Google Scholar
Blunt MC, Burchett KR. Variant Creutzfeldt disease and disposable anaesthetic equipment – balancing the risks. Br J Anaesth 2003; 90: 13.Google Scholar
Chu LF, Trudell JR, Brock Utne JG. Autoclaved reusable laryngeal mask airways contain significant protein contamination. Anesthesiology 2002; 96: A570. [Abstract]Google Scholar
Clery G, Brimacombe J, Stone T et al. Routine cleaning and autoclaving does not remove protein deposits from re-usable laryngeal mask devices. Anesth Analg 2003; 97: 11891191.Google Scholar
Coetzee GJ. Eliminating protein from reusable laryngeal mask airways. A study comparing routinely cleaned masks with three alternative cleaning methods. Anaesthesia 2003; 58: 346353.Google Scholar
Stone T, Brimacombe J, Keller C, Kelley D, Clery G. Residual protein contamination of ProSeal laryngeal mask airways after two washing protocols. Anaesth Intensive Care 2004; 33: 390393Google Scholar
Laupu W, Brimacombe J. Potassium permanganate reduces protein contamination of reusable LMAs. Anesth Analg 2004; 99: 614616.Google Scholar
Verghese C. LMA-Classic™, LMA-Flexible™, LMA-Unique™. Instruction Manual. Henley-on-Thames: The Laryngeal Mask Company Ltd, 1999.
Leknes KN, Lie T. Erythrosin staining in clinical disclosure of plaque. Quintes Int 1998; 19: 199204.Google Scholar
Rosner B. Hypothesis Testing: Categorical Data. Fundamentals of Biostatistics. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1995: 423426.
Fleiss JL. Reliability of Measurements. The Design and Analysis of Clinical Experiments. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1986: 232.
Figueredo E. Changes in the intracuff pressure of the laryngeal masks airway caused by repeated use. Can J Anaesth 2001; 48: 409412.Google Scholar
Hill AF, Butterworth RJ, Joiner S et al. Investigation of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and other human prion diseases with tonsil biopsy samples. Lancet 1999; 353: 183189.Google Scholar
Fichet G, Comoy E, Duval C et al. Novel methods for disinfection of prion-contaminated medical devices. Lancet 2004; 364: 521526.Google Scholar
Taylor DM. Inactivation of prions by physical and chemical means. J Hosp Infect 1999; 43 (Suppl): S69S76.Google Scholar