The laryngeal mask airway: potential applications in neonatal health care.

The laryngeal mask airway is a completely new concept in airway management and has the potential to provide a third airway option for the neonate. The device sits in the hypopharynx at the interface between the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, where it forms a circumferential low-pressure seal around the glottis. This article provides an overview of the laryngeal mask airway and focuses on its potential as a neonatal airway outside the operating room.