A randomised, crossover comparison between the CobraPLA and the LMA Classic in paralysed patients.

We performed a randomised, crossover study in 38 anaesthetised and paralysed patients to compare the performance of the CobraPLA and the LMA Classic during controlled ventilation. The median (IQR [range]) airway leak pressure was 23.0 (20-24 [12-30]) cmH(2)O for the CobraPLA and 15.0 (12-19 [8-30]) cmH(2)O for the LMA Classic (p < 0.001). The median (IQR [range]) insertion time was 15.0 (11-26 [9-31]) s for the CobraPLA and 22.5 (20-25 [15-50]) s for the LMA Classic (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two devices for the number of insertion and reposition attempts, the anatomical position scored by fibreoptic bronchoscopy or the peak and plateau airway pressures. There were no adverse events during anaesthesia. The CobraPLA provides a better airway leak pressure and takes less time to insert than the LMA Classic in paralysed patients. Our data show that the CobraPLA can be used to secure a patent airway during controlled ventilation in selected patients.