Supraglottic airway devices

Introduced into clinical practice in the early 1980s, supraglottic airway devices (SGA) have revolutionized prehospital and in-hospital airway management. Since then they have been continuously refined. Particularly users inexperienced in airway management often find the placement of an SGA easier and faster than, for example, bag-mask ventilation or endotracheal intubation. As a consequence, SGAs are currently established in the context of resuscitation and/or management of the difficult airway. Despite these advantages, their application is by no means trivial and sometimes associated with relevant complications. This paper provides an overview of the different types of SGA, their indications, contraindications, complications, special features and different fields of application in the context of prehospital and in-hospital emergency care.