Skip to main content
Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition logoLink to Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
. 2004 Nov;89(6):F485–F489. doi: 10.1136/adc.2003.038430

The laryngeal mask airway: potential applications in neonates

D Trevisanuto, M Micaglio, P Ferrarese, V Zanardo
PMCID: PMC1721768  PMID: 15499137

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (130.4 KB).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

 Basic laryngeal mask airway design. Reproduced by permission from Dr A I J Brain. Laryngeal mask instructor manual, 2000. Courtesy of The Laryngeal Mask Company Limited.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

 Demonstration of correct anatomical positioning of the laryngeal mask airway cuff around laryngeal inlet. Reproduced by permission from Dr A I J Brain. Laryngeal mask instructor manual, 2000. Courtesy of The Laryngeal Mask Company Limited.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Arosio E. M., Conci F. Use of the laryngeal mask airway for respiratory distress in the intensive care unit. Anaesthesia. 1995 Jul;50(7):635–636. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1995.tb15118.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Asai T., Koga K., Vaughan R. S. Respiratory complications associated with tracheal intubation and extubation. Br J Anaesth. 1998 Jun;80(6):767–775. doi: 10.1093/bja/80.6.767. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Behar P. M., Todd N. W. Resuscitation of the newborn with airway compromise. Clin Perinatol. 1999 Sep;26(3):717-32, viii. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Berry A. M., Brimacombe J. R., Verghese C. The laryngeal mask airway in emergency medicine, neonatal resuscitation, and intensive care medicine. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 1998 Spring;36(2):91–109. doi: 10.1097/00004311-199803620-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Boehringer L. A., Bennie R. E. Laryngeal mask airway and the pediatric patient. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 1998 Spring;36(2):45–60. doi: 10.1097/00004311-199803620-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Brain A. I. Size matters! Can J Anaesth. 2000 Dec;47(12):1262–1262. doi: 10.1007/BF03019881. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brain A. I. The laryngeal mask--a new concept in airway management. Br J Anaesth. 1983 Aug;55(8):801–805. doi: 10.1093/bja/55.8.801. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Brain A. I., Verghese C., Addy E. V., Kapila A., Brimacombe J. The intubating laryngeal mask. II: A preliminary clinical report of a new means of intubating the trachea. Br J Anaesth. 1997 Dec;79(6):704–709. doi: 10.1093/bja/79.6.704. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Brain A. I., Verghese C., Addy E. V., Kapila A. The intubating laryngeal mask. I: Development of a new device for intubation of the trachea. Br J Anaesth. 1997 Dec;79(6):699–703. doi: 10.1093/bja/79.6.699. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Brain A. I., Verghese C., Strube P. J. The LMA 'ProSeal'--a laryngeal mask with an oesophageal vent. Br J Anaesth. 2000 May;84(5):650–654. doi: 10.1093/bja/84.5.650. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Brimacombe J. R., Berry A. M., White P. F. The laryngeal mask airway: limitations and controversies. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 1998 Spring;36(2):155–182. doi: 10.1097/00004311-199803620-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Brimacombe J. R., De Maio B. Emergency use of the laryngeal mask airway during helicopter transfer of a neonate. J Clin Anesth. 1995 Dec;7(8):689–690. doi: 10.1016/0952-8180(95)00153-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Brimacombe J., Berry A. The laryngeal mask airway--anatomical and physiological implications. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1996 Feb;40(2):201–209. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1996.tb04420.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Brimacombe J., Gandini D. Airway rescue and drug delivery in an 800 g neonate with the laryngeal mask airway. Paediatr Anaesth. 1999;9(2):178–178. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9592.1999.00385.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Brimacombe J., Gandini D. Resuscitation of neonates with the laryngeal mask airway--a caution. Pediatrics. 1995 Mar;95(3):453–454. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Brimacombe J., Gandini D. The laryngeal mask airway: potential applications in neonatal health care. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1997 Mar-Apr;26(2):171–178. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.1997.tb02130.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Brimacombe J. The advantages of the LMA over the tracheal tube or facemask: a meta-analysis. Can J Anaesth. 1995 Nov;42(11):1017–1023. doi: 10.1007/BF03011075. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Bucx Martin J. L., Grolman W., Kruisinga Frea H., Lindeboom Jerôme A. H., Van Kempen Anne A. M. W. The prolonged use of the laryngeal mask airway in a neonate with airway obstruction and Treacher Collins syndrome. Paediatr Anaesth. 2003 Jul;13(6):530–533. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9592.2003.01108.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Ellis D. S., Potluri P. K., O'Flaherty J. E., Baum V. C. Difficult airway management in the neonate: a simple method of intubating through a laryngeal mask airway. Paediatr Anaesth. 1999;9(5):460–462. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9592.1999.00375.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Finer N. N., Rich W., Craft A., Henderson C. Comparison of methods of bag and mask ventilation for neonatal resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2001 Jun;49(3):299–305. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9572(01)00311-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Fujii Y., Saitoh Y., Tanaka H., Toyooka H. Cardiovascular responses to tracheal extubation or LMA removal in children. Can J Anaesth. 1998 Feb;45(2):178–181. doi: 10.1007/BF03013260. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Fujii Y., Tanaka H., Toyooka H. Circulatory responses to laryngeal mask airway insertion or tracheal intubation in normotensive and hypertensive patients. Can J Anaesth. 1995 Jan;42(1):32–36. doi: 10.1007/BF03010568. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Gandini D., Brimacombe J. R. Neonatal resuscitation with the laryngeal mask airway in normal and low birth weight infants. Anesth Analg. 1999 Sep;89(3):642–643. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199909000-00018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Ginsberg H. G., Goldsmith J. P. Controversies in neonatal resuscitation. Clin Perinatol. 1998 Mar;25(1):1–15. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Harnett M., Kinirons B., Heffernan A., Motherway C., Casey W. Airway complications in infants: comparison of laryngeal mask airway and the facemask-oral airway. Can J Anaesth. 2000 Apr;47(4):315–318. doi: 10.1007/BF03020944. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Jesudian M. C., Harrison R. R., Keenan R. L., Maull K. I. Bag-valve-mask ventilation; two rescuers are better than one: preliminary report. Crit Care Med. 1985 Feb;13(2):122–123. doi: 10.1097/00003246-198502000-00015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Lavies N. G. Use of the laryngeal mask airway in neonatal resuscitation. Anaesthesia. 1993 Apr;48(4):352–352. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1993.tb06981.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Lopez-Gil M., Brimacombe J., Alvarez M. Safety and efficacy of the laryngeal mask airway. A prospective survey of 1400 children. Anaesthesia. 1996 Oct;51(10):969–972. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1996.tb14968.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Lönnqvist P. A. Successful use of laryngeal mask airway in low-weight expremature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia undergoing cryotherapy for retinopathy of the premature. Anesthesiology. 1995 Aug;83(2):422–424. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199508000-00025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Markakis D. A., Sayson S. C., Schreiner M. S. Insertion of the laryngeal mask airway in awake infants with the Robin sequence. Anesth Analg. 1992 Nov;75(5):822–824. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199211000-00030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Martin P. D., Cyna A. M., Hunter W. A., Henry J., Ramayya G. P. Training nursing staff in airway management for resuscitation. A clinical comparison of the facemask and laryngeal mask. Anaesthesia. 1993 Jan;48(1):33–37. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Milner A. D., Vyas H., Hopkin I. E. Efficacy of facemask resuscitation at birth. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Dec 8;289(6458):1563–1565. doi: 10.1136/bmj.289.6458.1563. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Nguyen N. H., Morvant E. M., Mayhew J. F. Anesthetic management for patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and severe micrognathia: case reports. J Clin Anesth. 2000 May;12(3):227–230. doi: 10.1016/s0952-8180(00)00147-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Paterson S. J., Byrne P. J., Molesky M. G., Seal R. F., Finucane B. T. Neonatal resuscitation using the laryngeal mask airway. Anesthesiology. 1994 Jun;80(6):1248–27A. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Pennant J. H., White P. F. The laryngeal mask airway. Its uses in anesthesiology. Anesthesiology. 1993 Jul;79(1):144–163. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199307000-00021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Soh C. R., Ng A. S. Laryngeal mask airway insertion in paediatric anaesthesia: comparison between the reverse and standard techniques. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2001 Oct;29(5):515–519. doi: 10.1177/0310057X0102900512. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Tanaka Atsuko, Isono Shiroh, Ishikawa Teruhiko, Sato Jiro, Nishino Takashi. Laryngeal resistance before and after minor surgery: endotracheal tube versus Laryngeal Mask Airway. Anesthesiology. 2003 Aug;99(2):252–258. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200308000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Trevisanuto Daniele, Ferrarese Paola, Zanardo Vincenzo, Chiandetti Lino. Laryngeal mask airway in neonatal resuscitation: a survey of current practice and perceived role by anaesthesiologists and paediatricians. Resuscitation. 2004 Mar;60(3):291–296. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2003.11.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Trevisanuto Daniele, Micaglio Massimo, Pitton Mariangela, Magarotto Mariella, Piva Daniele, Zanardo Vincenzo. Laryngeal mask airway: is the management of neonates requiring positive pressure ventilation at birth changing? Resuscitation. 2004 Aug;62(2):151–157. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2004.03.006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Verghese C., Brimacombe J. R. Survey of laryngeal mask airway usage in 11,910 patients: safety and efficacy for conventional and nonconventional usage. Anesth Analg. 1996 Jan;82(1):129–133. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199601000-00023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Watcha M. F., Garner F. T., White P. F., Lusk R. Laryngeal mask airway vs face mask and Guedel airway during pediatric myringotomy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994 Aug;120(8):877–880. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1994.01880320077017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Wheatley R. S., Stainthorp S. F. Intubation of a one-day-old baby with the Pierre-Robin syndrome via a laryngeal mask. Anaesthesia. 1994 Aug;49(8):733–733. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1994.tb04416.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES