Moving the Gas-sampling Line Insertion Site to the Pharynx Reduces Aspiration Associated with a Supraglottic Airway: Research Letter

The supraglottic airway has proven its versatility in the operating room,^1,2  emergency room, and field resuscitation.³  However, the risk of pulmonary aspiration associated with supraglottic airways still exists.^4,5  The fundamental design of the supraglottic airway has not been significantly changed since its inauguration in the 1980s.⁶  Second-generation supraglottic airways were introduced to minimize the occurrence of aspiration by creating a channel for insertion of a gastric tube to suction gastric content.⁷  The efficacy of this additional channel remains unknown in human subjects.⁸  Modern anesthesia ventilators are equipped with a gas-sampling line that samples at rates up to 250 ml/min.^9,10  This line can be used to identify the occurrence of regurgitation and subsequently remove regurgitated material, minimizing aspiration. The conventional configuration cannot achieve this goal, as the insertion point of a gas-sampling line is at the Y connection...