title: A pilot evaluation of the 3gLM-R - A new supraglottic airway device.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Supraglottic airway devices are designed for airway management during anaesthesia. The 3gLM is a novel device with a non-inflatable soft cuff and separate channels for gas delivery and drainage of gastric content.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study of the 3gLM, version R, size 4 in 40 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery, evaluated the insertion success rate at the 1st attempt as the primary outcome. Secondary aims included insertion parameters, such as total success rate, insertion time, oropharyngeal seal pressures, postoperative complications and a comparison between males and females.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First attempt insertion success rate was 80% (70% in males, 90% in female patients, p=0.24), while total insertion success rate was 92.5% (85% in males, 100% in females, p=0.23). The oropharyngeal seal pressures were 27cmH2O, higher in females (29.4cmH2O) than in males (24.2cmH2O) - p=0.002. Postoperative complications were only temporary and included sore throat (24.3%), hoarseness (10.8%), pain on swallowing (10.8%) and minor tongue haematoma (2.5%). There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the genders apart from hoarseness. No aspiration of gastric contents or other long-term complications occurred in this cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3gLM exhibited oropharyngeal seal pressures adequate for the controlled ventilation in most patients. Size 4 of the device showed higher pressures in females than in men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: pafkamich@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michalek
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Barbora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jindrova
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kriz
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stritesky
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Surgery - Department of Abdominal, Thoracic Surgery and Traumatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sedlar
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: 3gLM; Controlled ventilation; Oropharyngeal seal pressure; Supraglottic airway device