A Prospective Randomized Study to Evaluate and Compare ILMA and Air-Q Intubating Laryngeal Airway

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the Air-Q intubating laryngeal airway (ILA) as a primary airway device and conduit for tracheal intubation and to compare it with the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) which is currently the ‘gold standard’ supraglottic airway used as a conduit for tracheal intubation.
Methods: Eighty patients of either sex, aged 18-60 years scheduled for elective surgery were allocated into two groups. In Group I (n=40), the intubating laryngeal mask airway was used to secure the airway and in Group A (n=40), the Air-Q intubating laryngeal airway was used. Both devices were then compared and assessed as ventilation device and intubation conduit.
Results: ILMA had a higher first attempt intubation success rate (95%) as compared to ILA (72.5%) but both devices were comparable with respect to ease of placement and total time required for intubation.
Conclusion: Both ILMA and ILA were comparable as primary airway devices. The first attempt blind intubation success rate was significantly higher in Group I.