BACKGROUND: Ambu Aura40 is a relatively newer supraglottic airway device (SAD) as compared to the standard Proseal LMA. The present study intends to compare the clinical performance of both these SADs in terms of ease of insertion, first pass success rate and oropharyngeal leak pressure.

METHODS: Sixty patients between 18-60 years of age, belonging to ASA grade I and II, scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were included in the study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups of 30 each. In Group A airway was secured using Ambu Aura 40 and in group P Proseal LMA was used to secure airway. Insertion time, number of attempts of placing supraglottic device, Oropharyngeal leak pressure, Fibreoptic grading and ease of placement of device was noted.

RESULTS: The mean insertion time was significantly lower in Ambu Aura40 than the Proseal LMA (6.8±2.6 vs 9.29±3.03 sec; p=0. 001). The ease of insertion and first pass success rate was similar between the groups. Mean Oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) was significantly higher in Proseal LMA when compared with Ambu Aura40 (32.00±4.63 vs 24.83±5.52 cmH2O; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: We propose that Ambu Aura40 is a cost effective and reasonably successful device with similar performance to Proseal LMA with a shorter insertion time due to its special modifications.