Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Feb 2011
Case Reports[Use of the flexible laryngeal mask in rheumatoid arthritis with the patient in lateral decubitus position].
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease leading to synovitis and joint deformities. The hands are often affected but in some cases there may be involvement of the temporomandibular, the atlantoaxial, and cricoarytenoid joints. For insertion of the mask, a patient may be placed in supine, lateral, or prone position with minimal complications. ⋯ At the end of the procedure, the mask was removed without complications and she orally assessed pain as 0. The flexible laryngeal mask can be used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with little need to move the cervical spine. Insertion can take place in lateral decubitus position, thus avoiding movements that might worsen the patient's underlying disease.