The use of cricoid pressure to prevent gastric aspiration or regurgitation in case of "full stomach" situation or emergency is still controversial in the adult population. Moreover this maneuver is no more recommended in children by some European pediatric anesthesia societies, because of a lack of evidence of its protective effect against gastric aspiration and its possible adverse effects.
A new approach to occlude effectively the esophageal lumen has been recently described in adults and has shown its effectiveness to prevent gastric insufflation. But this maneuver has so far not been evaluated in the pediatric population and could be an alternative to prevent gastro-esophageal regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration in children
Children from 2 to 10 years of age who benefit from general anesthesia with or without intubation
inhalation induction
elective surgery
ASA status 1 or 2
Child under 2 years old or > 10 years
body weight is over 40 kgs
ASA status 3 or higher
Emergency surgery or unscheduled surgery