Supraglottic Airways: Does Safety Evolve with Design?

Supraglottic airway (SGA) devices have undergone a variety of evolutionary changes which have increased their versatility. Has their safety profile improved as well? Investigators in this issue conducted a retrospective, observational study to determine if airway-related safety events changed with the transition from first-generation SGAs (LMA-Unique) to second-generation devices (I-gel) over a seven year period. This infographic summarizes their findings. Overall, the transition to the I-gel device resulted in a reduction in airway related events with a decrease of by 0.3% per month in a large healthcare network. Further, prospective studies will better clarify the effect of newer supraglottic devices on airway safety. The reader is strongly encouraged to review the cited article for a more thorough understanding of this topic.