Feasibility of the laryngeal tube airway for artificial ventilation in pigs and comparison with the laryngeal mask airway

Airway management in anesthetized pigs is known to be technically demanding, and the 'gold standard' technique of endotracheal intubation is particularly difficult to master. The authors investigated the feasibility of the laryngeal tube as an alternative technique for airway management in German Landrace pigs (n = 5). They compared this method with the laryngeal mask, which is considered to be an effective yet relatively straightforward tool for porcine airway management. One after the other, investigators attempted to establish an airway in each anesthetized, artificially ventilated pig using each device. The laryngeal tube was too short to intubate the largest pig (weighing 45 kg), and it took investigators slightly longer to insert this device compared with the laryngeal mask. With the laryngeal mask, there were several incidents of gastric insufflation. Despite these complications, all investigators were able to establish a secure airway and maintain oxygenation with the laryngeal tube, and all subjectively rated both devices as easy to use.