Storage capacities of the laryngeal mask and laryngeal tube compared and their relevance to aspiration risk during positive pressure ventilation.

Abstract

Supraglottic airways used for positive pressure ventilation run the occasional risk of regurgitated liquid entering the lungs (aspiration). A dynamic model described here shows that the laryngeal tube has a larger liquid storage capacity between the two cuffs than the bowl of the laryngeal mask, with a consequent smaller aspiration risk.