The role of the laryngeal mask airway in pre-hospital care.
Since its introduction into clinical practice in 1988, the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has fundamentally changed the airway management of patients undergoing routine anaesthesia. Currently in the UK, the LMA is used in > 50% of surgical procedures where an endotracheal tube (ETT) would formerly have been used. It seems timely to review the role of this device in resuscitation and its potential role in the pre-hospital arena.
R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University Center, Baltimore, MD 21201-1595.
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D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom