Greater palatine nerve neuropraxia after laryngeal mask insertion: A rare occurrence

Abstract

With the more frequent use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) over endotracheal tubes for general anaesthesia, various cranial nerve injuries have been reported recently. We report a rare occurrence of greater palatine nerve (GPN) palsy subsequent to the use of LMA Supreme™ in a young female scheduled for hand surgery. Although the exact mechanism of a nerve injury is still a matter of further research, we postulate pressure neuropraxia of GPN as a causative factor in the development of numbness over the hard palate after the removal of LMA in the post operative period.

Keywords

• Greater palatine nerve
• laryngeal mask airway
• neuropraxia and general anaesthesia