Reducing the incidence of sore throat with the laryngeal mask airway.

The incidence of sore throat after the use of the laryngeal mask was assessed with a randomized trial in 839 patients. Sore throat occurred more often in women, older patients or after multiple insertion attempts. It was found that the frequency in women, but not in men, was lowered from 11.9% to 3.9% (P = 0.012) by reducing intracuff pressure to the minimum required for an effective seal.