Background and Aims:Second generation supraglottic airways are increasingly being used in surgical patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Preventing aspiration at higher airway pressures may be at the expense of a higher cuff pressure which can impair mucosal perfusion. We attempted to elucidate whether Ambu AuraGain™ (AAU) would provide a higher oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) with a lower mucosal pressure in comparison to ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA).Methods:This was a prospective randomised study involving sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia, using either AAU (Group AAU [n = 30]) or PLMA (Group PLMA [n = 30]) for elective ventilation. Primary outcome measure was the OLP. Number of insertion attempts, ease of insertion, time required for placement and calculated pharyngeal mucosal pressure were the secondary outcome measures. Data were analysed using Student's t-test and Chi-square test.Results:No significant difference in the OLP was noted in both groups. The ease of insertion and success rate at first attempt was similar between the groups. Time taken for insertion in Group AAU was longer than Group PLMA (13.57 ± 1.94 vs. 11.60 ± 2.22 s). The calculated pharyngeal mucosal pressures were lower with Group AAU than Group PLMA for all 3 sizes. The minimum cuff pressure and minimum cuff volume required to prevent leak were found similar in both groups.Conclusion:AAU provides adequate sealing pressures and effective ventilation with lower calculated pharyngeal mucosal pressure, compared to PLMA.

Background and Aims: While performing laryngoscopy during nasotracheal intubation (NTI), the tip of the advancing endotracheal tube (ETT) generally lies along the posterior pharyngeal wall. The inflation of the ETT cuff brings it anterior towards the glottis. The present study was planned to compare the intubating conditions for NTI with standard direct Macintosh laryngoscope versus C-MAC ® video laryngoscope (VL) employing ETT cuff inflation technique. Methods: This prospective randomised study was carried out on 50 patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II, age 18–60 years of either sex with an indication for NTI under general anaesthesia. They were randomly divided into two groups: group VL ( n = 25): C-MAC ® VL and group ML ( n = 25): Macintosh laryngoscope. The primary outcome was to compare the total duration of NTI (T), while the secondary outcomes were to compare the need for cuff inflation or assistance with Magill forceps for successful NTI, the total number of attempts to achieve successful NTI, haemodynamic effects and complications. Results: T was significantly higher in group ML than group VL ( P < 0.001). The intubation was successful with cuff inflation in all the patients in group VL, however, six patients of group ML required assistance with Magill forceps ( P = 0.022). The haemodynamic parameters were all significantly higher at 3 min in group ML in comparison to group VL. Conclusion: The cuff inflation technique when used along with C-MAC ® VL had more success rate, required lesser time and had minimal postoperative complications in comparison to the Macintosh laryngoscope.

Supraglottic Airways (SGAs) are an integral part of anaesthetic care. Since their introduction, several modifications, additions, and variations have been developed and are currently in clinical practice since the last 25 years. Not only are they useful for difficult ventilation during both in-hospital and out-of-hospital difficult airway management, they also act as a conduit for tracheal intubation. The newer or second-generation SGAs have been designed to provide a better seal of the airway and are relatively safer since they allow gastric aspiration. Thus, the SGAs may be the most versatile component in the airway management cart. Existing literature on SGAs tends to focus on first generation SGAs and their use in OT only. However, the scope and use of these devices is vast. Knowledge regarding specific devices and supporting data for their use is of utmost importance to patient’s safety. This chapter addresses various types of commercially available novel SGAs and their use in and out of hospital settings.

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