For years, the endotracheal tube has served a pre-eminent role in airway management. Now a new approach, use of the laryngeal mask airway, is taking its place across the world in the repertoire of techniques available to the anaesthetist. The technique is especially popular in outpatient surgery, but has also proven to be life-saving in the management of airway crises.
The first laryngeal mask was invented in a development effort by Dr. Archie Brain spanning the years from 1981 to 1988.
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