A temporary airway management device used to resuscitate patients who require endotracheal intubation but in whom intubation has failed or is unlikely to be successful. Untrained personnel find the device easier to use than standard intubation equipment because direct visualization of laryngeal anatomy is unnecessary. The LMA can be used in the field as well as in critical care settings or in the operating room. Its ease of use must be balanced against its risks: the device provides a less secure airway than endotracheal intubation, and its use has occasionally been associated with injuries to the mouth, pharynx, or vocal cords.