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Product Brochure

The LMA Classic™ was first introduced in the U.K. in 1988 and in the U.S. in 1992 as an alternative to the face mask. Since 1988, it is estimated that the LMA Classic™ has been used in over 100 million patients worldwide. The LMA Classic™ is used in nearly every hospital in the U.S. and has the widest range of sizes (8), from neonates to large adults. The LMA Classic™ is ideally suited for elective, outpatient surgical procedures. It is most often used in spontaneously breathing patients, but can also be used with assisted and controlled ventilation up to 20 cm H20.

Even though it is called the "routine-use" LMA™ airway, it has been used successfully in many urgent and emergency situations, including difficult airways and adult and neonatal resuscitation. The LMA Classic™ owes its success in resuscitation to the ease with which clinicians learn to use the device and long term retention of that learning even if the device is used infrequently. The LMA Classic™is also available in a disposable version called the LMA Unique™.

Clinical benefits:

• More secure than a face mask
• Allows single-handed ventilation
• Rapid, blind insertion (no laryngoscopy)
• Only LMA™ airway with full line of pediatric sizes available

Clinicians have successfully used the LMA Classic™ as a conduit for tracheal intubation, especially in the difficult airway situation. Because it was not designed specifically for intubation, the success rates for blind intubation are variable. Therefore, if intubation through the LMA Classic™ is performed, using a fiberoptic scope will increase the likelihood of successful intubation. Ideally, the intubating LMA Fastrach™ should be considered as the best option for blind intubation or the LMA CTrach™ for real time visualization of the intubation.

There are nearly 2,000 publications on the LMA Classic™. For additional reading, the following articles are recommended and are available as reprints through Customer Service.