Gum-elastic Bougie-guided Insertion of the ProSeal™ Laryngeal Mask Airway: A New Technique

We determined the success rates, cardiovascular responses and airway morbidity for gum-elastic bougie-guided insertion of the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway. One hundred anaesthetized, non-paralyzed adults (ASA 1–2, aged 18 to 80 years) were studied. The ProSeal LMA drainage tube was primed with a well-lubricated 16 French gauge gum-elastic bougie with the curved end proximal and the straight end protruding 30 cm beyond the drainage tube tip. The straight end of the gum-elastic bougie was inserted into the oesophagus under laryngoscopic guidance, the laryngoscope removed and the ProSeal LMA inserted using the standard insertion technique and the gum-elastic bougie as a guide. The following variables were recorded: ease of insertion, oropharyngeal leak pressure, ventilatory capability, ease of gastric tube insertion, blood staining on the bougie or LMA at removal, and postoperative airway morbidity. Haemodynamic data were recorded immediately pre-insertion and every minute for five minutes after insertion. Gum-elastic bougie and ProSeal LMA insertion was successful at the first attempt in all patients within 50 seconds. There were no significant increases in heart rate or blood pressure. Oropharyngeal leak pressure was 33 (17–40) cmH 2 O and ventilation was possible without leak in all patients at 9.5 ml.kg –1 tidal volume. There were no drainage tube or gastric air leaks. Gastric tube insertion was successful at the first attempt in all patients. Blood staining at removal was not detected on the gum-elastic bougie, but was detected in 3% of ProSeal LMAs. The incidence of sore throat, dysphagia and dysarthria was 21%, 9% and 1% respectively. We conclude that gum-elastic bougie-guided insertion of the ProSeal LMA has a high success rate and is associated with minimal haemodynamic change and a low incidence of trauma.