DOES THE LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY COMPROMISE CRICOID PRESSURE

The laryngeal mask airway was inserted in 10 cadavers. At postmortem the chest was opened and an infusion set primed with a dilute barium solution was inserted into the oesophagus and ligated in place. A cricoid force of 43 N was then applied and the infusion set was positioned so that when the clamp was opened it generated a pressure of 7.8 kPa within the oesophagus. The cricoid pressure was able to stop the flow of fluid into the oesophagus. This demonstrates that cricoid pressure is effective in preventing reflux at intragastric pressures which are encountered clinically and the presence of the laryngeal mask airway does not compromise this. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved