Placement of the intubating laryngeal mask is easier than the laryngeal mask during manual in-line neck stabilization.

We have compared in 25 patients ease of placement of the conventional and intubating laryngeal masks while the patient's head and neck were stabilized by a manual in-line method, in a randomized, crossover study. After induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular block, the masks were placed in turn. Adequacy of ventilation and ease of placement (using a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS)) were assessed; time for placement between removal of the face mask and connection of the laryngeal mask to the breathing system was measured. Adequate ventilation was always obtained after placement of the intubating laryngeal mask, whereas ventilation was adequate in 22 of 25 patients after placement of the conventional laryngeal mask. Placement of the intubating laryngeal mask was significantly easier (P < 0.001; 95% confidence intervals (CI) for median difference 8-31 mm in VAS) and faster (P << 0.001; 95% CI for mean difference 3.2-6.2 s) than that of the conventional mask.