Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-Letters: Submit a response to the article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stix, M. S.
Right arrow Articles by O’Connor, C. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stix, M. S.
Right arrow Articles by O’Connor, C. J., Jr
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2003, Vol. 90, No. 2 235-237
© 2003 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

Short Communications

Depth of insertion of the ProSealTM laryngeal mask airway

M. S. Stix* and C. J. O’Connor Jr

Department of Anesthesiology, Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805, USA

Corresponding author. E-mail: michael.s.stix@lahey.org
{dagger}LMA® is the property of Intavent Limited.

Background. The depth of insertion of the ProSealTM laryngeal mask airway (PLMA{dagger}) is unknown. We measured depth of insertion in satisfactorily positioned PLMAs.

Methods. All women received size 4 masks and men size 5 masks. We measured the position of the integral bite block in relation to the upper incisors documented in patients over a 6-month period. Depth of insertion was scored by dividing the integral bite block into quarters. Satisfactory positioning of the ProSealTM itself was determined by (i) positive ‘suprasternal notch test’, (ii) no venting via the drain tube during maximal lung inflation, and (iii) an unobstructed airway.

Results. We studied 274 patients (147 women and 127 men). The midway point of the bite block was proximal to the incisors (e.g. within the oropharynx) in 78% of women (95% CI 71–85%) and 92% of men (95% CI 87–97). The standard deviation for the depth distribution in women was 0.8 cm and for men was 1.0 cm.

Conclusions. Usually most of the integral bite block lies within the oropharynx. It was never normal for the entire bite block to stick out of the mouth (4 SD from the mean for both men and women). The position of the integral bite block relative to the upper incisors gives valuable information during assessment of PLMA position.

Br J Anaesth 2003; 90: 235–7


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br J AnaesthHome page
M. Lopez-Gil, J. Brimacombe, L. Barragan, and C. Keller
Bougie-guided insertion of the ProSealTM laryngeal mask airway has higher first attempt success rate than the digital technique in children
Br. J. Anaesth., February 1, 2006; 96(2): 238 - 241.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Anesth. Analg.Home page
J. Brimacombe and C. Keller
A Proposed Algorithm for the Management of Airway Obstruction with the ProsealTM Laryngeal Mask Airway
Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2005; 100(1): 298 - 299.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.