Der Anaesthesist
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Over the last 10 years, the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) has gained widespread acceptance as a general purpose airway for routine anaesthesia. Published data from large studies and reports have confirmed the safety and efficacy of the device for spontaneous and controlled ventilation during routine use. The initial experience with the LMA should ideally be confined to short cases requiring the patient to remain spontaneously ventilating. ⋯ The main disadvantage of the LMA is that it does not protect against aspiration. From a practical point of view, most fasted patients with normal lung compliance may be mechanically ventilated through the LMA to airway pressures of approximately 20 cmH2O. The low pressure seal implies that tidal volumes should be approximately 6-8 ml*kg-1 and the inspiratory flow rates should be reduced to achieve adequate and safe ventilation.
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The endotracheal tube (ETT) is a considerably flow-dependent and, therefore, variable mechanical load. Conventional modes of respiratory support cannot adequately compensate for the tube resistance in inspiratorion and not at all in expiration. Automatic tube compensation (ATC) compensates for the flow-dependent pressure drop across the tracheal tube by a positive pressure support in inspiration and by a negative pressure support in expiration. ⋯ In addition, successful extubation could be better predicted with this mode in difficult-to-wean patients compared to other modes. There are no special rules in the clinical application of ATC. However, to prevent overassist the support level of the ventilatory mode which is combined with ATC should be reduced.