TECHNICAL NOTES   

Chirurgia Del Piede 1999 September;23(3):141-4

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Use of COPA (Cuffed Oropharyngeal Airway) in foot surgery

Napoli V.

COPA (Cuffed oropharyngeal airway) is a recently introduced intensive care anesthesiological aid used to prevent respiratory blockage of the upper airways. It is an evolution of the traditional oropharyngeal cannula from which it differs owing to the presence of an inflatable cuff and direct safety coupling with the respiratory circuit in order to reduce environmental pollution caused by anesthetic gases. It can be used to advantage in foot surgery when general anesthesia is employed with spontaneous breathing without intubation. Its placement and maintenance in situ is only possible with depressed nervous reflexes. In a preliminary evaluation made in 50 patients undergoing elective foot surgery, it was well accepted by 48 patients. In two cases of intolerance it was necessary to replace it with a traditional oropharyngeal cannula for which it is a complement, but not a replacement.