EFFECT OF CRICOID PRESSURE ON EASE OF INSERTION OF THE LARYNGEAL MASKAIRWAY

We have evaluated the effects of cricoid pressure on laryngeal mask ai rway (LMA) insertion after an elective rapid sequence induction in 100 patients allocated randomly to two groups. An attempt was made to ins ert the LMA after application of cricoid pressure in one group and wit h no pressure in the other. The anaesthetist was blinded to the applic ation of cricoid pressure. Insertion was successful in 45 of 50 patien ts in the cricoid pressure group and in 49 of 50 patients in the non-c ricoid group (P < 0.1) We discuss the implications of these findings f or failed intubation in the nonfasted patient.