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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Who uses it: laryngeal mask airways are used by clinicians in anaesthesia and resuscitation (Intersurgical describes its i-gel as widely used in both). This page is for clinic staff, buyers and students who need to tell the main types apart.
What is a laryngeal mask airway?
A laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is a supraglottic airway device: an airway tube with a cuff or mask that sits over the laryngeal inlet and seals in the pharynx, allowing both spontaneous and controlled ventilation (Ramesh and Jayanthi, Indian J Anaesth 2011). “LMA” is also the name of one manufacturer’s product family, so the types below include both that family and similar devices from other makers. For how an LMA compares with a tube that passes through the vocal cords, see LMA vs endotracheal tube.
First generation vs second generation
The same review groups supraglottic airways two ways. By sealing mechanism, the LMA family, i-gel and air-Q are perilaryngeal sealers; Combitube, SLIPA and the Laryngeal Tube are pharyngeal sealers; and the CobraPLA is classed as both. By evolution, first-generation devices are “simple airway tubes” (classic LMA, flexible LMA, LMA Unique, CobraPLA), while second-generation devices add a drainage tube (Proseal LMA, i-gel, Laryngeal Tube, LMA Supreme, SLIPA) (Ramesh and Jayanthi, Indian J Anaesth 2011).
Laryngeal mask airway types and variants
| Type | Generation (per review) | Key difference from the others | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic LMA | First | Inflatable-cuff original of the LMA family; the review states it does not protect against regurgitation. Available in seven sizes. | Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
| Flexible LMA | First | Smallest size in the range is size 2. | Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
| LMA Unique | First | The disposable version of the classic LMA. | Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
| CobraPLA | First | Classed as both a perilaryngeal and a pharyngeal sealer. | Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
| Proseal LMA | Second | Two cuffs inflated by a single balloon, plus an additional drain tube parallel to the airway tube. Seven sizes: 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4 and 5. | Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
| LMA Supreme | Second | Listed as second generation in the review. | Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
| i-gel | Second | Non-inflatable seal made from a medical-grade thermoplastic elastomer; drainage tube and integral bite block; single use. Three adult and four paediatric sizes, for patient weights of about 2 to 90+ kg. | Intersurgical; Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
| Fastrach (intubating LMA) | Not assigned in the review | The intubating LMA; listed in sizes 3, 4 and 5. The review states Fastrach and CTrach are not available in paediatric sizes. | Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011 |
The review is paediatric-focused and dates from 2011, so product lines may have changed since. Check the current range and instructions for use from the manufacturer.
How the cuff differs: inflatable vs non-inflatable
The Proseal LMA has two cuffs that can be inflated by a single balloon, according to the review. The i-gel has a “soft, gel-like, non-inflatable cuff” that needs no inflation, according to its manufacturer (Intersurgical i-gel information page).
The i-gel range
Intersurgical names these i-gel variants: i-gel, i-gel Plus, i-gel for anaesthesia, i-gel for emergency medicine and the i-gel O2 Resus Pack. The i-gel was launched in 2007, and its indications were expanded in 2012 to include use as a conduit for fibreoptic-guided intubation. Size charts for the i-gel are on the laryngeal mask airway sizes guide.
What to compare when reading product literature
- Size numbers are product-specific. The Proseal runs from size 1 to 5 in half steps at the small end, the Fastrach is listed only in sizes 3 to 5, and the flexible LMA starts at size 2 (Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011). The exact range for each product is in the manufacturer’s literature; see the laryngeal mask airway sizes guide.
- Drainage tube or not is the line the review draws between first and second generation.
- Single-use or reusable: the LMA Unique is described as the disposable version of the classic LMA, and the i-gel is supplied as a single-use device.
- Fastrach and CTrach are not available in paediatric sizes.
Handling and regulation
Instructions for use, size ranges and labelling come from each manufacturer and apply to the exact product. This page does not give procedural steps. For how supraglottic airways are classified and compared with tracheal tubes, see LMA vs endotracheal tube. Related equipment pages: what is a laryngoscope, what is an endotracheal tube and oral airway sizes.
Where to find airway and emergency supplies
Related supplies are listed in the emergency and trauma supplies category at lac.us.
FAQ
What is a laryngeal mask airway?
A laryngeal mask airway is a supraglottic airway device: an airway tube with a cuff or mask that seals over the laryngeal inlet in the pharynx, allowing both spontaneous and controlled ventilation. It is a first- or second-generation design depending on whether it adds a drainage tube (Ramesh and Jayanthi 2011).
What are the main laryngeal mask airway types?
The review lists the classic, flexible and Unique LMA and the CobraPLA as first generation, and the Proseal LMA, i-gel, Laryngeal Tube, LMA Supreme and SLIPA as second generation. The Fastrach is the intubating LMA. See the table above for the sourced difference between each.
What is the difference between an inflatable and a non-inflatable cuff?
The Proseal LMA has two cuffs inflated by a single balloon, while the i-gel has a soft, gel-like, non-inflatable cuff that needs no inflation, according to its manufacturer.
Sources
- Ramesh S, Jayanthi R. Supraglottic airway devices in children. Indian J Anaesth 2011;55(5):476-482. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3237147 (checked 2026-10-30).
- Intersurgical, i-gel supraglottic airways information page. intersurgical.com/info/igel (checked 2026-10-30).
