THE LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is one of the most outstanding recent innovations in the practice of anaesthesia. It was developed by a sing leminded anaesthetist working in the East End of London who wished to provide an artificial airway which bypassed the gap between the mouth and the glottis and yet avoided penetrating the vocal cords. It became commercially available in the United Kingdom in 1988 and Australia, J apan and North America followed in 1991. Its widespread availability a nd use are testament to its success. Pennent and White (1993) have pub lished a comprehensive review of LMA.