To evaluate the efficacy of Baska mask and LMA Protector in anesthetized paralysed patients – a prospective randomized comparative study.

The supraglottic airway devices (SGAD) are widely used for airway management in anaesthetic field, critical care and emergency situations like difficult airway management. Since their introduction, several innovative devices have been developed depending on shape, functioning channels and cuff.

Baska maskTM (BM) is novel SGAD with self-sealing membranous cuff that inflates during inspiration and partially deflates during expiration.  It has two drain channels proximally, opening into the large integral sump cavity distally, at the upper oesophagus.

LMA-Protectorâ„¢ is relatively new SGAD with inflatable cuff integrated with Cuff Pilotâ„¢ technology for easier and continuous adjustment of the intracuff pressure. Similar to BM, it has two drain channels which narrows distally into common orifice communicating with the upper oesophageal sphincter.

Both the devices had been evaluated in limited studies. The two devices are similar in design except cuff. BM has got self-sealing cuff while LMA protector has inflatable cuff with continuous monitoring of cuff pressure, so we hypothesize that oropharyngeal sealing pressures might be comparable. Currently, there is no available literature comparing the efficacy of BM with LMA protector.

In our study, we aim to compare BM and LMA protector in terms of clinical efficacy like adequacy of airway seal, insertion time, ease and accuracy of insertion, and the incidence of postoperative sore throat and other complications, in paralyzed and anesthetized patients.