Der Anaesthesist
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Minor laryngopharyngeal complaints following anaesthesia considerably determine postoperative patient comfort. They cannot be eliminated but reduced by experience and careful preparation and insertion technique. The incidence of minor laryngopharyngeal symptoms following the use of the laryngeal mask airway is similar to that following endotracheal intubation. ⋯ Measurement of cuff pressure is not obligatory, instead reduction of cuff volume to a "just seal" situation seems to be a reasonable approach. The laryngeal mask airway has definitely changed anaesthesiology airway management. Whether this is due to its supposedly less invasiveness compared to endotracheal intubation has not been proven by scientific investigations.