The Effect of a New Supraglottic Airway With Built-in Cuff Pressure Indicator

The Effect of a New Supraglottic Airway With Built-in Cuff Pressure Indicator on Postoperative Pharyngolaryngeal Adverse Events: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

The study compares the incidence of pharyngolaryngeal complications in patients managed with either a pressure-limiting strategy using the AES Ultra CPVTM or a standard practice using a LMA, in ambulatory surgery patients.

Recent evidence suggests that reduction of LMA intracuff pressure may decrease the incidence of pharyngolaryngeal symptoms. Yet, pressure manometers are not widely available limiting the application of a strategy of intracuff pressure reduction. The Ultra airway has been designed to provide continuous indication of intracuff pressure and can limit the intracuff pressure to < 60 cm H2O. This study compares the incidence of pharyngolaryngeal complications in patients managed with either a pressure-limiting strategy using the Ultra or a standard practice using a LMA, in ambulatory surgery patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III
• 18 to 65 years of age
• Ambulatory patients scheduled to undergo knee arthroscopy, transurethral resection of bladder tumor, hand, gynecological, general surgical and eye procedures under a short general anesthesia of less than 2 hours
• Spontaneously breathing on the LMA

Exclusion Criteria:

• Reduced mouth opening less than 2.5cm
• Recent history of upper respiratory tract infection and sore throats
• Contraindications of LMA use (Morbid obesity with body mass index greater than 40kg/m2, symptomatic hiatus hernia, esophageal reflux disease)