Reduced air leakage by adjusting the cuff pressure in pediatric laryngeal mask airways during spontaneous ventilation

Optimal inflation of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) cuff should allow ventilation with low leakage volumes and minimal airway morbidity. Manufacturer's recommendations vary, and clinical end-points have been shown to be associated with cuff hyperinflation and increased leak around the LMA. However, measurement of the intra-cuff pressure of the LMA is not routine in most pediatric institutions, and the optimal intra-cuff pressure in the LMA has not been determined in clinical studies.