Background & Aims: Supraglottic airway devices were invented to fill the niche between face mask and endotracheal tube. Now a day they have become an irreplaceable part of airway management. Proseal LMA, a modification over classic LMA, with dorsal cuff and a gastric drainage tube has shown to provide better glottic seal and safeguard against pulmonary aspiration. We undertook this study to compare the efficacy of endotracheal tube with Proseal LMA in paediatric patients in terms of ease of insertion, no of attempts of insertion, post insertion hemodynamic changes, ventilatory effectiveness and perioperative complications.

Material & Methods: 50 ASA I and II children, aged 2 to 8 years, weighing 10–20 kg, undergoing elective infraumbilical surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups. In group P– prosealLMA was inserted and in group E–endotracheal tube was placed.

Result:We found that mean insertion time of PLMA was significantly lower than ET tube. Hemodynamic responses were significantly higher after endotracheal intubation than PLMA. Adequate ventilation was achieved in both the groups with no episode of desaturation or hypercarbia. Extent of laryngopharyngeal morbidity was less in PLMA group, Fiberoptic examination revealed grade 1 fibreoptic view in 80 % patients after PLMA placement with adequate seal pressure (mean seal pressure 21)

Conclusion:The performance of PLMA is comparable to conventional endotracheal intubation, in providing effective ventilation during controlled ventilation in paediatric population.