The use of cricoid pressure with the intubating laryngeal mask

Unexpected difficulty with tracheal intubation contributes to anaesthetic morbidity and mortality. The intubating laryngeal mask is effective in facilitating blind intubation. We have evaluated the effect of cricoid pressure on the ability to insert an intubating laryngeal mask, and to pass a tracheal tube through it. Insertion and intubation through the mask were attempted in 50 patients, Mallampati grade 1-3, randomly allocated to cricoid and noncricoid pressure groups. Tracheal intubation was successful in 21 (84%) of the noncricoid group and 13 (52%) of the cricoid group (p = 0.03). Cricoid pressure may have to be released to allow correct placement and intubation through the intubating laryngeal mask.