Laryngeal Mask Airway and Tracheal Tube Insertion by Unskilled Personnel

Abstract

Abstract After a short training programme 11 naval medical trainees inserted a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and a tracheal tube (ETT) in random order in a total of 110 anaesthetized patients. They were allowed 40 seconds for each attempt. Success was defined as the detection of expired carbon dioxide within 40 seconds of Guedel airway removal which subsequently rose to an end-tidal value of at least 4 kPa, together with satisfactory lung expansion and ventilation, without other airway intervention by the anaesthetist. One hundred and four LMA insertions were successful compared with 56 ETTs (p