Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
The advantages of the LMA over the tracheal tube or facemask: a meta-analysis.
A meta-analysis was performed on randomised prospective trials comparing the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with other forms of airway management to determine if the LMA offered any advantages over the tracheal tube (TT) or facemask (FM). Of the 858 LMA publications identified to December 1994, 52 met the criteria for the analysis. Thirty-two different issues were tested using Fisher's method for combining the P values. ⋯ Disadvantages over the TT were lower seal pressures and a higher frequency of gastric insufflation. The only disadvantage compared with the FM was that oesophageal reflux was more likely. The importance of these findings in terms of patient outcome could not be determined from the published data.