title: The use of the laryngeal mask airway with mechanical positive pressure ventilation.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to discuss the benefits, safety, and efficacy of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and identify the risks and misconceptions associated with LMAs when used with positive pressure ventilation (PPV). Despite the abundance of supporting evidence that LMAs may be used successfully in a variety of age groups and surgical procedures using PPV, many anesthesia providers are still reluctant to choose an LMA when PPV is needed. This reluctance emerges from the misconception that when using an LMA with mechanical ventilation, there is an increased incidence of gastric insufflation, failed ventilation, and pulmonary aspiration. When compared to other airway adjuncts, however, the LMA is a safe, effective means of delivering ventilation under anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Hospital, Troy, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chmielewski
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Snyder-Clickett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D004869:Equipment Safety; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007327:Insufflation; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000451:nursing; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013270:Stomach; D016896:Treatment Outcome