Ease of ventilation through the cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA), the laryngeal mask airway and the face mask in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training manikin

The aim of this study was to compare ease of ventilation of a cardiopulmona ry resuscitation manikin using a cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA), a lary ngeal mask airway (LMA) and a face mask, by two groups of people with diffe rent levels of earlier experience in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). E nrolled were, 108 people identified as experienced (54), or inexperienced ( 54), in CPR. Training equipment included a manikin, a COPA (n=10), an LMA ( n=4), a face mask (n=4) and self-inflating bag-valve device. The same inves tigator explained the theoretical use and practice of the three techniques with the subjects in groups of three. The variables recorded were the numbe r of attempts needed to achieve correct placement (and a tidal volume of 20 0 ml, was achieved), the insertion time for the COPA and the LMA, and the a verage time taken to achieve the first ten correct ventilations. The face m ask and LMA required fewer attempts for correct placement than did the COPA . The LMA also took less time to insert than the COPA. The face mask requir ed a significantly shorter total time with all attempts and the mean time o f placement and time to achieve ten correct ventilations was shorter than w ith either the LMA or the COPA (P=0.0001). We conclude that the face mask o ffers an easier and quicker way to provide ventilation for CPR manikins tha n does the COPA or the LMA. Earlier experience affects the ease of insertio n of the LMA and the total time needed to achieve effective ventilation. (C ) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.