what is lma

LMA stands for Laryngeal Mask Airway, which is a medical device used to keep a patients airway open during anesthesia or while they are unconscious. It is a supraglottic airway device that can be used as a temporary method to maintain an open airway during the administration of anesthesia or as an immediate life-saving measure in a patient with a difficult or failed airway. The LMA is shaped like a large endotracheal tube on the proximal end that connects to an elliptical mask on the distal end. It is designed to sit in the patient’s hypopharynx and cover the supraglottic structures, thereby allowing relative isolation of the trachea. The LMA is a good airway device in many settings, including the operating room, emergency department, and outpatient care because it is easy to use and quick to place, even for the inexperienced provider.