Ramped versus sniffing position for Ambu® AuraGain™ insertion in patients with obesity: a randomized controlled study.

Background: The ramped position facilitates mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation in patients with obesity. This study aimed to determine whether the ramped position improves supraglottic airway (SGA) insertion in patients with obesity.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, single-center trial, 48 obese patients undergoing elective surgery were randomized into either ramped or sniffing position groups. The Ambu® AuraGain™ (Ambu A/S, Ballerup, Denmark), a second-generation SGA, was used. The primary outcome was the time required for the AuraGain insertion. Secondary outcomes included ease and number of insertion attempts, oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP), and complications. The number needed to treat (NNT) was calculated to ensure ease of insertion.

Results: The time required for the AuraGain insertion was significantly shorter in the ramped group than in the sniffing group (13.0 [11.0-16.0] vs. 24.0 [21.0-28.0], P < 0.001). The insertion was easier in the ramped group than in the sniffing group (23 / 24 vs. 13 / 24, NNT = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.6-5.0], P = 0.003). The first-attempt success rate was higher in the ramped group than in the sniffing group, although the difference was not statistically significant (22 / 24 vs. 18 / 24, P = 0.319). The OLP and postoperative complication rates were not significantly different between the groups.

Conclusions: The ramped position reduced the time required for the AuraGain insertion in obese patients while providing comparable airway sealing without increasing adverse events. Therefore, a ramped position may be a more suitable option for SGA insertion in this population.