There may be a role for single-use laryngeal mask airways with concerns about inability to adequately sterilise laryngeal mask airways to eradicate prion proteins. A single-blinded prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare the clinical performance of the single-use AMBU®LMA with the reuseable LMA Classic. There was no difference in time to insertion, successful insertion at first attempt, oropharyngeal leak pressure, haemodynamic response to insertion or complications of placement. The AMBU®LMA was easier to insert. There was a suggestion of reduced postoperative sore throat and pharyngeal trauma for the AMBU®LMA group. The AMBU®LMA is a viable alternative to the LMA Classic for airway management in spontaneously breathing patients.
BerryA.M., BrimacombeJ.R., VergheseC.The laryngeal mask airway in emergency medicine, neonatal resuscitation, and intensive care medicine.Int Anesthesiol Clin1998; 36: 91–109.
2.
Americian Society of Anaesthesiologists Task Force on Management of the Difficult AirwayPractice guidelines for management of the difficult airway: an updated report by the American Society of Anaesthesiologists Task Force on Management of the Difficult Airway.Anesthesiology2003; 98: 1269–1277.
3.
MillerD.M., YoukhanaI., KarunaratneW.U., PearceA.Presence of protein deposits on ‘cleaned’ reusable anaesthetic equipment.Anaesthesia2001; 56: 1069–1072.
4.
BluntM.C., BurchettK.R.Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease and disposable anaesthetic equipment: Balancing the risks. Editorial.Br J Anaesth2003; 90: 1–3.
5.
GreenwoodJ., GreenN., PowerG.Protein contamination of the laryngeal mask airway and its relationship to re-use.Anaesth Intensive Care2006; 34: 343–346.
6.
AAGBIInfection control in anaesthesia.AAGBI, London2002.
7.
MarfinA.G., PanditJ.J., HamesK.C., PopatM.T., YentisS.M.Use of the bougie in simulated difficult intubation. 2. Comparison of single-use bougie with multiple-use bougie.Anaesthesia2003; 58: 852–855.
8.
TwiggS., McCormickB., CookT.M.A randomized evaluation of the performance of single-use laryngoscopes in simulated easy and difficult intubation.Br J Anaesth2003; 90: 8–13.
9.
AmbuProduct Information Ambu™ Single Use Laryngeal Mask.AMBU A/S, Ballerup.
10.
DrageM.P., VaughanR.S., AsaiT.Jaw thrusting as a clinical test to assess the adequate depth of anaesthesia for insertion of the laryngeal mask.Anaesthesia1996; 51: 1167–1170.
11.
HagbergC.A., JensenF.S., GenzwuerkerH.V., Krivosic-HorberR., SchmitzB.U., HinkelbeinJ.A multicenter study of the AMBU® laryngeal mask in nonparalysed, anesthetized patients.Anesth Analg2005; 101: 1862–1866.
12.
BrainA.I.J.The development of the laryngeal mask—a brief history of the invention, early clinical studies and experimental work from which the laryngeal mask evolved.Eur J Anaesthesiol Suppl1991; 4: 5–17.
13.
VaidaS.J., YodfatU.A.Angulation of the airway tube in the AMBU laryngeal mask could be responsible for improved insertion success.Anesth Analg2006; 103: 264.
14.
YodfatU.A.Modified technique for laryngeal mask airway insertion.Anesth Analg1999; 89: 1327.
15.
JaffeR.A., Brock-UtneJ.G.A modification of the Yodfat laryngeal mask airway insertion technique.J Clin Anesth2002; 14: 462–463.
16.
MainoP., DullenkopfA., BernetV., WeissM.Nitrous oxide diffusion into the cuffs of disposable laryngeal mask airways.Anaesthesia2005; 60: 278–282.
17.
PaechM.J., LainJ., GarrettW.R., GillespieG., StannardK.J., DohertyD.A.Randomised evaluation of the single-use SoftSeal and the reuseable LMA Classic laryngeal mask.Anaesth Intensive Care2004; 32: 66–72.
18.
Van ZundertA.A., FonckK., Al-ShaikhB., MortierE.Comparison of the LMA Classic with the new disposable SoftSeal laryngeal mask in spontaneously breathing adult patients.Anesthesiology2003; 99: 1066–1071.
19.
BrimacombeJ., KellerC., MorrisR., MecklemD.A comparison of the disposable versus the reusable laryngeal mask airway in paralysed adult patients.Anesth Analg1998; 87: 921–924.
20.
CookT.M.The classic laryngeal mask airway: a tried and tested airway.What now? Br J Anaesth2006; 96: 149–152.
21.
GernothC., JandewerthO., ContzenM., HinkelbeinJ., GenzwurkerH.Comparison of two different laryngeal mask models for airway management in patients with immobilization of the cervical spine.Anaesthesist2006; 55: 263–269.
22.
DoneleyS., BrimacombeJ., KellerC., von GoedeckeA.The Proseal™ has a shorter life-span than the Classic™ laryngeal mask airway.Anesth Analg2005; 100: 590–593.
