title: Evaluation of the SLIPA (streamlined liner of the pharynx airway), a single use supraglottic airway device, in 60 anaesthetized patients undergoing minor surgical procedures.
abstract: The Streamlined Liner of the Pharyngeal Airway, SLIPA (Hudson RCI) is a new disposable supraglottic airway device that has no inflatable cuff and has features designed to reduce aspiration risk. This study aimed to assess the insertion success and effectiveness of the SLIPA in 60 patients who presented for elective surgery. Ethics committee approval was obtained. Patients were excluded if they were less than 18 years, had not provided written consent or were at risk of pulmonary aspiration. The first 20 SLIPA were inserted by the principal investigator (Group A) followed by another 40 inserted by medical officers and anaesthetists of varying experience (Group B). Twenty-one males and 39 females were recruited into the study. Median time to ventilation was 20.4 seconds in Group A (range 12.9-109) and 24.8 seconds in Group B (range 8.2-82.5). Overall success rate was 100% in Group A and 92.5% in Group B. The lowest recorded SpO2 was 91% in Group B. The incidence of blood and sore throat score >3 (0-10 scale) was 23% and 7% respectively (Groups A and B). Group B reported that use of the device was very easy in 16%, easy in 76%, difficult in 5%, and very difficult in 3%. The SLIPA proved to be a reliable airway providing adequate ventilation in both spontaneous breathing and assisted respiration. Most users found the SLIPA to be easy or very easy to use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity