Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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As outpatient anaesthesia increases in volume so does research, especially in ways to reduce morbidity from relatively minor complications such as sore throat and hoarseness, as well as aiming to reduce costs and length of hospital stay. The past year has produced many studies in which newer airway devices have been compared with the laryngeal mask airway and this review evaluates them all. ⋯ Despite the introduction of new airway devices, some of which have specific indications for use, the classic laryngeal mask airway remains the 'gold standard' with which newer devices are compared. Whilst some of these new devices show promise in the outpatient setting, further research is required before their universal acceptance.