Use of a new supraglottic airway device – the CobraPLA – in a ‘difficult to intubate/difficult to ventilate’ scenario

• Published in: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 421 - 423
• Main Authors: Szmuk, P., Ezri, T., AkÇa, O., Alfery, D. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK; Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Ltd/Inc 01-03-2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Aged; Airway Obstruction - etiology; Airway Obstruction - therapy; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoscopy - methods; CobraPLA; difficult ventilation; Equipment Design - methods; failed intubation; Fiber Optic Technology - instrumentation; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal - instrumentation; Intubation, Intratracheal - methods; Laryngeal Masks; Male; Medical sciences; supraglottic airway devices; CobraPLA; supraglottic airway devices; Anesthesia; Intubation; difficult ventilation; failed intubation
• ISSN: 0001-5172; 1399-6576
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2005.00618.x

A 67‐year‐old male was scheduled for cadaveric renal transplant. Following rapid sequence anaesthesia, only the tip of the epiglottis was visualized. Mask ventilation was difficult, and therefore an alternative airway device was considered. A size 4 CobraPLA™ (Engineered Medical System, Indianapolis, IN) was inserted into the hypopharynx, and ventilation was easily accomplished. Then, a size 7 endotracheal tube was threaded over a fiberoptic bronchoscope, through the CobraPLA, into the trachea.
The description and insertion technique of the CobraPLA, a new supraglottic airway device is shortly discussed. This is the first report of successful management of difficult mask ventilation with the new CobraPLA, supraglottic airway device.