Storage Capacities of the Laryngeal Mask and Laryngeal Tube Compared and Their Relevance to Aspiration Risk During Positive Pressure Ventilation

IMPLICATIONS: Supraglottic airways used for positive pressure ventilation run the occasional risk of regurgitated liquid entering the lungs (aspiration). A dynamic model described here shows that the laryngeal tube has a larger liquid storage capacity between the two cuffs than the bowl of the laryngeal mask, with a consequent smaller aspiration risk.