The Effectiveness of the Gnana Laryngeal Mask Airway II (GLA-II) With Novel Suction Tubing in Gastrointestinal (GI) Cases.

INTRODUCTION

The Gnana laryngeal mask airway II (GLA-II) is a supraglottic airway device similar to the classic laryngeal mask airway, except it has an additional suction port. This suction port allows for the removal of secretions and saliva. A previous version of the Gnana laryngeal airway 4 was made of silicone, while this newer version is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is more affordable. This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness and tolerability of this PVC-designed GLA-II and evaluate its ability to suction secretions.

METHODS

The prospective cohort study included 100 gastrointestinal (GI) cases to determine the effectiveness and toleration of the GLA-II. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 1-3 patients were evaluated with a Mallampati airway score for GI-related procedures. After anesthesia induction with propofol, the GLA-II was inserted, and the time for successful insertion was recorded. All cases were completed within 62 minutes. During this time, the secretion volumes were also measured.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were included in the study: 52% were males and 48% were females. Thirty-four patients were scored as ASA class 1 or 2, while 66 were scored as ASA class 3. The GLA-II insertion was successful on the first attempt in 92 patients, and a second attempt was necessary for six patients. It was unsuccessful in two patients. The average time for successful insertion was 28.3 ± 4.3 seconds. The average amount of saliva suctioned was 9.3 ± 2.6 mL. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications during these cases.

CONCLUSION

The PVC GLA-II device is distinguished by its ability to allow suctioning during placement. With an adequate epiglottic seal, it can be safely and successfully inserted in a short period of time. More research should be conducted to explore the use of GLA-II devices in other settings, such as emergencies and life-saving scenarios.