title: The LMA-Supreme™ as an intubation conduit in patients with known difficult airways: a prospective evaluation study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many extraglottic airway devices allow the direct passage of an adult-sized tracheal tube, but this is not possible with the LMA-Supreme(TM) . We evaluated the feasibility of using the LMA-Supreme(TM)  as a conduit for intubation in patients with known difficult airways.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight adult patients, with preoperative predictors of difficult intubation, were scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia. After assessing the direct laryngoscopy view, 23 patients with Cormack-Lehane III/IV were included in the study. An LMA-Supreme(TM)  was inserted, followed by the passage of a flexible bronchoscope loaded with an Aintree Intubation Catheter into the trachea. The bronchoscope and LMA-Supreme(TM)  were removed, and a tracheal tube was railroaded over the Aintree Intubation Catheter into the trachea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tracheal intubation was successful in all patients using the above technique. SpO(2)  was >95% during the intubation procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the LMA-Supreme(TM)  is a successful conduit for bronchoscopic/Aintree Intubation Catheter-guided intubation in patients with known difficult airway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, ICU and Pain Therapy, Catharina Hospital-Brabant Medical School, Michelangelolaan 2, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
authors.forename: T C R V
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: van Zundert
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: A A J
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van Zundert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058109:Airway Management / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen