Comparison of air-Q® and Soft Seal® laryngeal mask for airway management by novice doctors during infant chest compression: A manikin study

Abstract Background Recent resuscitation guidelines for infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) emphasise that rescuers should minimise the interruption of chest compressions. To that end, supraglottic devices such as laryngeal mask airways (LMAs) are suggested as a backup for airway management during infant CPR. We therefore compared the utility of the air-Q® LMA (air-Q) with that of the Soft Seal® LMA (Soft Seal) for infant CPR in an infant manikin. Methods Twenty-four novice doctors in the anaesthesia department performed insertion and ventilation with air-Q and Soft Seal on an infant manikin with or without chest compression. Results Two doctors failed to insert the Soft Seal without chest compression, while nine failed during chest compression ( P < 0.05). However, only one doctor failed to insert the air-Q without chest compression, and two doctors failed during chest compression. Insertion time was not significantly increased with chest compression using either device. Insertion time during chest compression was significantly shorter for the air-Q than for the Soft Seal ( P < 0.05). The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate difficulty of use (0 mm (extremely easy) to 100 mm (extremely difficult)). VAS scores did not change significantly by the addition of chest compression with either device; however, VAS scores during chest compression were significantly higher with Soft Seal than with the air-Q device. Conclusion We conclude that novice doctors find the air-Q easier to use than Soft Seal for emergency airway management during chest compression in infants, in an infant manikin.