[The laryngeal tube].

The laryngeal tube (VBM Medizintechnic GmbH, Sulz, Germany) is a supraglottic device designed for airway management in spontaneous or positive-pressure ventilation during anesthesia or in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Currently, the tube is available in 4 versions: the standard laryngeal tube, the disposable tube (LT-D), the dual-lumen tube (with a tube for suction) (LTS II), and the disposable LTS (LTS-D). The design of the tube has been modified several times. It is easy to insert and the airway seal is more effective than that of the laryngeal mask. The incidence of complications is similar for both devices, though use of the laryngeal tube requires more adjustments. The standard tube is somewhat less effective than the ProSeal laryngeal mask, though the new LTS II has been improved considerably. The laryngeal tube is effective as an aid to management of the difficult airway. We reviewed the literature indexed on MEDLINE through December 2006 using the search terms laryngeal tube, anesthesia, equipment, and airway.