What is a supraglottic airway device?

Category: medical health ear nose and throat conditions
4.5/5 (259 Views . 32 Votes)
Classification of Supraglottic Airway Devices
Supraglottic airway devices (SADs) are devices that keep the upper airway clear for unobstructed ventilation. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) refers to SADs produced by the manufacturers of the LMA Classic (LMA North America [San Diego]).



Also know, how does a supraglottic airway work?

Supraglottic airways (SGAs) are a group of airway devices that can be inserted into the pharynx to allow ventilation, oxygenation, and administration of anesthetic gases, without the need for endotracheal intubation.

One may also ask, what is an Igel airway? The i-gel® is the innovative second generation supraglottic airway device from Intersurgical. Made from a medical grade thermoplastic elastomer, i-gel has been designed to create a non-inflatable, anatomical seal of the pharyngeal, laryngeal and perilaryngeal structures whilst avoiding compression trauma.

Thereof, is an LMA a supraglottic airway?

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is a supraglottic airway device developed by British Anesthesiologist Dr. Archi Brain. It has been in use since 1988. The LMA is shaped like a large endotracheal tube on the proximal end that connects to an elliptical mask on the distal end.

Which airway device provides protection for the lungs from regurgitated stomach contents?

The primary limitation of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is that it does not reliably protect the lungs from regurgitated stomach contents, although it may act as a barrier at the level of the upper oesophageal sphincter if it is correctly positioned.

36 Related Question Answers Found

When would you use a supraglottic airway device?

Supraglottic airway devices (SADs) are used to keep the upper airway open to provide unobstructed ventilation. Early (first-generation) SADs rapidly replaced endotracheal intubation and face masks in > 40% of general anesthesia cases due to their versatility and ease of use.

What is the most common complication after inserting an oral airway?

Airway hyperactivity is a potentially lethal complication of OPA use, because oropharyngeal and laryngeal reflexes can be stimulated by the placement of an artificial airway. Coughing, retching, emesis, laryngospasm, and bronchospasm are common reflex responses.

Is a King Airway considered intubation?

Laryngeal tube. The laryngeal tube (also known as the King LT) is an airway management device designed as an alternative to other airway management techniques such as mask ventilation, laryngeal mask airway, and tracheal intubation.

How long can you use LMA?

Among emergency cases, If the patient is a difficult case of intubation , it should be remained until an alternative definite airway management is ready to perform. Among the elective cases, it should be applied only for minor surgeries with an expected duration time of less than 30-45 minutes.

How does the King Airway work?


The Laryngeal Mask Airway is a device used frequently in surgery to provide an airway. It has a higher incidence of aspiration, as it provides less occlusion of the esophagus. The King Laryngeal Tube (King LT) allows practitioners to quickly and efficiently establish a secure airway without direct laryngoscopy.

When would an oral airway be used?

An oropharyngeal airway (also known as an oral airway, OPA or Guedel pattern airway) is a medical device called an airway adjunct used to maintain or open a patient's airway. It does this by preventing the tongue from covering the epiglottis, which could prevent the person from breathing.

What are the different types of airways?

Types of airway include:
  • oropharyngeal.
  • nasopharyngeal.
  • endotracheal.
  • laryngeal mask airway.
  • cricothyroidotomy.
  • tracheostomy.

Is an LMA a secure airway?

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) provides a safe and effective method of securing an airway in anesthesia and critical care settings. In particular, the Fastrach LMA, through which an endotracheal tube can be introduced, provides an alternative method for intubation in a difficult airway patient.

What does LMA stand for?

Leave Me Alone

How do I confirm my LMA placement?


Confirm the position of the LMA by auscultating bilateral breath sounds and an absence of sounds over the epigastrium, observing chest rise with ventilation, and placing an ET CO2 to look for color change. Ensure that the vertical black line on the tube is at the patient's midline.

How many types of ET tube are there?

Types of endotracheal tube include oral or nasal, cuffed or uncuffed, preformed (e.g. RAE (Ring, Adair, and Elwyn) tube), reinforced tubes, and double-lumen endobronchial tubes. For human use, tubes range in size from 2 to 10.5 mm in internal diameter (ID).

Can nurses insert LMA?

The use of the laryngeal mask airway by nurses during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Results of a multicentre trial. One hundred and thirty nurses were trained and 164 cases of cardiac arrest were studied. The laryngeal mask airway was inserted at the first attempt in 71% and at the second attempt in 26% of cases.

Why use an LMA over an ETT?

Patients receiving long-term ventilation may require a tracheostomy with the breathing tube placed directly into the trachea to avoid damage to the trachea and larynx by the ETT. A laryngeal mask airway ( LMA ) is often used for general anaesthesia and can also be used during PDT.

How is LMA measured?

In addition, there is little difference between the calculated LMA size–patient weight relation between this formula and the recommended formula. 1 For example, if the patient weighs 15 kg, the calculation would be as follows: LMA size ≥ (15/5)0.5= (3)0.5= 1.7. In this case, a No. 2 LMA would be used.

How do you secure an LMA?


To improve its stability and avoid mask rotation, the manufacturers recommend that the LMA tube be pressed into the palatopharyngeal arch, and that the tube outlet face the patient's feet. To keep the LMA in this position, a slight downward pressure should be exerted to keep it steady and prevent it from dislodgement.

How do you install a supraglottic airway?

Insertion technique for supraglottic airway:
  1. Give sedative and analgesia if required.
  2. Deflate cuff using 20ml syringe.
  3. Lubricate outer cuff.
  4. Position patient.
  5. From behind the patient, hold the tube like a pen and insert into the mouth, sliding the outer cuff along the palate.

What is LMA anesthesia?

A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) — also known as laryngeal mask — is a medical device that keeps a patient's airway open during anaesthesia or unconsciousness. It is a type of supraglottic airway device. The laryngeal mask is still widely used today worldwide and a variety of specialised laryngeal masks exist.