Comparison of Ease and Success of Intubation through LMA Blockbuster and Ambu Aura-I in Patients Receiving General Anesthesia

Abstract

Background: Airway gadgetry is expanding at an exponential rate. It is imperative to understand the intubating characteristics of supraglottic devices so that the choice of device in patients is based on evidence rather than just the design. The present study was conducted to compare blind intubation with blockbuster LMA and Ambu Aura-i. Methodology: Sixty patients of either sex, 20 to 60 years of age, ASA I–III, scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia, were included in this prospective, randomized, comparative study. Group A (n = 30) patients were intubated with AmbuAura-i, and Group B (n = 30) patients were intubated using BlockBuster LMA. Results: Endotracheal intubation was found easy in 76% of the patients and difficult in 10% of the patients intubated with Ambu Aura −i. A 13.3% failure rate was observed in group A. Intubation success rate of 100% was observed in Group B. 86.6% of patients were easily intubated, and seven patients were intubated with a bit of difficulty (P-value 0.010). The mean time of SGD insertion in Group A was 14.77 ± 5.563 seconds, and in Group B was 21.87 ± 7.186 seconds (P-value 0.000). SGD insertion attempts were significantly higher in Group B when compared to Group A (P-value 0.025). Conclusion: Although AA-i requires less time for the placement of SGD, blockbuster LMA remains the better choice with a 100% success rate of blind orotracheal intubation.