Published Studies and Articles Referencing the King LT® and King LT(S)-D™

Overall Success

“50 patients: Insertion was determined to be easy and a patent airway was achieved in all patients.” Hagberg C et at. An Evaluation of the Insertion and Function of a New Supraglottic Airway Device, the King LT™, During Spontaneous Ventilation. Anesth Analg 2006; 102:621–5.

175 patients: Successful mechanical ventilation in 169 patients (96.6%); unacceptable in 3 patients due to airway pressures above 40cm H2O; 3 due to unacceptable ventilation. Gaitini L et al. An Evaluation of the Laryngeal Tube During General Anesthesia Using Mechanical Ventilation. Anesth Analg 2003; 96:1750-5.

25 patients: LT inserted successfully on the first attempt in all cases. Ocker H et al. A Comparison of the Laryngeal Tube with the Laryngeal Mask Airway During Routine Surgical Procedures. Anesth Analg 2002; 95:1094-7.

30 patients: In all cases, the LT was inserted successfully on the first attempt. Dorges V et al. The Laryngeal Tube: A New Simple Airway Device. Anesth Analg 2000; 90:1220-2.

60 patients: In all patients the LT was inserted successfully on the first attempt. Agro F et al. Preliminary Results Using the Laryngeal Tube for Supraglottic Ventilation. Am J Emerg Med 2002; Jan.

Ventilatory Seal

In 22 patients, the mean leak pressure was significantly greater for LT vs. LMA; gastric insufflation did not occur with the LT, but was noted in 3 patients with the LMA. Asai T et al. The laryngeal tube compared with the laryngeal mask: insertion, gas leak pressure and gastric insufflation. Br J Anaesth 2002; 89 (5):729-32.

In 30 patients, airway pressures of 40cm H2O possible without gastric inflation. Dorges V et al. The Laryngeal Tube: A New Simple Airway Device. Anesth Analg 2000; 90:1220-2.

Delivered tidal volume of .486L with LT compared to .500L for endotracheal tube; auscultation over the epigastrium during lung inflation with the LT showed no sign of gastric insufflation. Vollmer T et al. Fibreoptic control of the laryngeal tube position. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2002; 19:306-7.

Low Incidence of Complications

50 patients: The unique design of the King LT allows for ease of placement and advancement, minimizes the risk of aspiration, and has acceptable rates of both intraoperative and postoperative complications. Hagberg C et al. An Evaluation of the Insertion and Function of a New Supraglottic Airway Device, the King LT, During Spontaneous Ventilation. Anesth Analg 2006; 102:621–5.

In 60 patients, no adverse airway events occurred and no gastric inflation was detected. After 24 hrs no patient reported sore throat, mouth pain or dysphagia. Agro F et al. Preliminary Results Using the Laryngeal Tube for Supraglottic Ventilation. Am J Emerg Med 2002; Jan.

No blood was visualized in 171 of 175 cases; grade 1 upper airway trauma in 4 patients. Sore throat (12 cases) disappeared within 24 hrs (no treatment required); no complaint of hoarseness occurred. Gastric insufflation was not detected by epigastric auscultation in any patient. Gaitini L et al. An Evaluation of the Laryngeal Tube During General Anesthesia Using Mechanical Ventilation. Anesth Analg 2003; 96:1750-5.

An in vitro study determined that the storage capacity (regurgitated volume before aspiration occurs) is 3.5ml for the LMA vs. 15ml with the LT. Miller D et al. Storage Capacities of the Laryngeal Mask and Laryngeal Tube Compared and Their Relevance to Aspiration Risk During Positive Pressure Ventilation. Anesth Analg 2003; 96:1821-2.

Likelihood of LT Tip Entering Trachea

In 500 attempts in a mannequin, no inadvertent tracheal intubation occurred. Even using a laryngoscope, the LT could not be placed in the trachea due to the form and length of the tube. Genzwuerker H et al. The Laryngeal Tube: A New Adjunct for Airway Management. Prehosp Emerg Care 2000; 4(2):168-72.

Tracheal Intubation After Placement of the King LT

Fibre0ptic placement of a tube exchange catheter through the LT allowed successful switch to tracheal intubation in 9 of 10 patients. Genzwueker H et al. Fibreoptic tracheal intubation after placement of the laryngeal tube. Br J Anaesth 2002; 89(5):733-8.

After placement of the LT in a 24 yr old male with multiple fractures of the jaw, fibreoptic nasotracheal intubation along side the LT was accomplished. Asai T et al. Use of the laryngeal tube for nasotracheal intubation. Br J Anaesth 2001; 87(1).