Lightwand-Guided Insertion of Flexible Reinforced Laryngeal Mask Airway: Comparison with Standard Digital Manipulation Insertion

BACKGROUND: The flexibility of the long flexometallic tube makes insertion of the flexible reinforced laryngeal mask airway (f-LMA) difficult. We compared the usefulness of rigid lightwand-guided f-LMA insertion with standard digital manipulation. MATERIAL/METHODS: Fifty-four patients (aged 19–70 years) were randomly divided into a control group (digital manipulation technique) or the lightwand group (lightwand-guided insertion technique). The insertion profiles, oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), expiratory tidal volume, and ventilatory score were measured in patients with neutral, extension, rotation, flexion, and re-neutral head-neck positions in turn. RESULTS: The success rate and ease of insertion did not differ between groups, but the insertion time was longer in the lightwand group. The fiberoptic laryngeal view was significantly better in the lightwand group than in the control group. However, the OLP, PIP, expiratory tidal volume, and ventilatory scores were not significantly different between groups according to head-neck positions. The extension posture was associated with a significant negative effect on ventilation, but ventilation returned to initial levels with the other postures. CONCLUSIONS: Lightwand-guided f-LMA insertion showed a better fiberoptic laryngeal view than standard digital manipulation, but no improvement in the ventilatory state was observed due to position. Therefore, lightwand-guided insertion could facilitate correct placement of the f-LMA, but it has limited clinical usefulness.