A new supraglottic airway, the Elisha Airway Device: a preliminary study

We describe the Elisha Airway Device (EAD), a new reusable supraglottic ventilatory device. Its uniqueness consists of its ability to combine three functions in a single device: ventilation, blind and/or fiberoptic-aided intubation without interruption of ventilation, and gastric tube insertion. This study was performed in 70 ASA status I-II, Mallampati class I-II patients undergoing elective knee arthroscopy and receiving general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl and propofol and was maintained with isoflurane in N20/oxygen. Neuromuscular blockade was achieved with vecuronium. Blind insertion of the device was successful in 96% of patients, with a mean insertion time of 20 +/- 4 s. In these patients it was possible to maintain oxygenation and ventilation throughout the surgical procedure. Gastric tube insertion was successful in all cases. Endotracheal intubation via the EAD was attempted in 20 patients. Blind intubation was possible during the first and second attempts in 15 and 2 patients, respectively. Fiberoptic intubation was then successful in two of the remaining three patients. The EAD is a new alternative in the evolution of supraglottic ventilatory devices; however, further clinical studies are necessary to evaluate its efficacy.