Tracheal intubation through the laryngeal mask using a gum elastic bougie in the presence of cricoid pressure and manual in line stabilisation of the neck.

Forty adult patients had a gum elastic bougie passed blindly through a laryngeal mask on two occasions, after standard insertion, and after the application of cricoid pressure with manual in line stabilisation of the neck. After standard insertion the bougie entered the trachea on 11/40 occasions. With manual in line stabilisation of the neck and cricoid pressure applied, the bougie entered the trachea on 9/40 occasions. These results were not statistically significant. Blind passage of a gum elastic bougie through a laryngeal mask does not provide a reliable route into the trachea in either of the circumstances studied.