[Laryngeal masks. Possibilities and limits].

Introduction of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been a revolutionary development in airway management over the last decades. It was first used clinically in 1981 by A. Brain and has been widely used in Germany since 1990. Originally intended as a substitute for conventional mask respiration for short periods of general anaesthesia, the laryngeal mask is in the meantime used in many areas as an alternative to elective endotracheal intubation as well as an option for controlling difficult airways. This contribution provides an overview of the basics as well as practical aspects of LMA use, and discusses the possibilities and limitations of the laryngeal mask in daily practice.