2012 Volume 32 Issue 7 Pages 948-952
The AHA-ACLS 2010 guidelines suggest using supraglottic devices (SGD) such as laryngeal masks (LMA) as alternatives to tracheal intubation during CPR. We compared the performance of the LMA-Supreme® (Supreme; Laryngeal Mask Company, Henley-on-Thames, UK) and the laryngeal tube (LT; VBM Medizintechnik, Sulz, Germany) with or without chest compression utilizing a manikin. 18 novice doctors who had less than a year of experience with anesthesia participated. Without chest compression, all participants succeeded with the Supreme, and 17/18 participants did so with the LT (no significant difference; n.s.). During chest compression, 17/18 participants succeeded with the Supreme, and 17/18 succeeded with the LT (P < 0.05). Insertion time was not significantly lengthened by chest compression in either the Supreme or LT trial (Supreme; 7.2±2.7 sec → 7.5±1.6 sec, LT; 7.3±1.9 sec → 7.6±1.6 sec). SGD such as LMA or LT may be useful not only for physically difficult airways, but also for emergency airway management during CPR.
