The study, led by anesthesiologists at China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan, was a randomized, single-blinded, crossover study involving 60 paralyzed, anesthetized adult patients. Both devices were inserted into each patient in different sequences after anesthesia had been induced. The researchers then evaluated success rate, insertion time, fiberoptic view, peak airway pressure, sealing pressure, incidence of gastric insufflations, trace of blood on the device and incidence of postoperative sore throat.
The success rate of placement on the first attempt was high for both devices, according to the study’s abstract. However, the OPLAC required less insertion time, had less variation on insertion time, fit better into the laryngopharynx and was less likely to cause gastric insufflations.
Read the abstract of the study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
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