Is the laryngeal mask a minimally invasive instrument for securing the airway?

Minor laryngopharyngeal complaints following anaesthesia considerably deter mine postoperative patient comfort. They cannot be eliminated but reduced b y experience and careful preparation and insertion technique. The incidence of minor laryngopharyngeal symptoms following the use of the laryngeal mas k airway is similar to that following endotracheal intubation. However, the re seems to be a distinct pattern of complaints: discomfort with swallowing is more frequent after LMA, whereas dysphonia is more often observed folow ing endotracheal intubation. The significance of LMA cuff pressures in the pathogenesis of postoperative throat complaints remains unclear. There is sound evidence that cuff press ure is not a representative measure for the effective pressure load upon th e pharyngeal mucose. Measurement of cuff pressure is not obligatory, instea d reduction of cuff volume to a "just seal" situation seems to be a reasona ble approach. The laryngeal mask airway has definitely changed anaesthesiol ogy airway management. Whether this is due to its supposedly less invasiven ess compared to endotracheal intubation has not been proven by scientific i nvestigations.