Supraglottic airway devices (SADs) have become of increasing importance in recent years. Apart from their frequent use during elective surgery, SADs have become an essential part of difficult airway algorithms. When tracheal intubation and face mask ventilation fail, a temporary insertion of an SAD can enable ventilation, thus protecting the patient from hypoxemia. SADs as the device of choice for airway management by health care providers without expertise in tracheal intubation. In the recent years second generation SADs have been introduced with claims that ventilation and airway protection are improved. Second generation SADs include a lumen for insertion of a gastric tube in order to prevent gastric insufflation and pulmonary aspiration. Furthermore, several second generation SADs can be used as a conduit to facilitate tracheal intubation.