The laryngeal mask airway (LMA), invented by Dr. Brain in 1981, is a new airway device filling the gap between tracheal intubation and the use of a facial mask. The LMA is reusable, simple to use, atraumatic to in-sert, and helpful in overcoming an obstructed airway. The LMA is inserted blindly into the hypopharynx and forms a low pressure seal around the laryngeal inlet. It is minimally stimulating to the airway, thus avoiding the unwanted sympathetic stimulation associated with laryngoscopy and intubation. Besides the use as a routine airway for elective surgery, the LMA has a role in management of difficult airway and traumatic patients. The standard LMA, the LMA-Classic(R), is still being used for majority of cases in and out of hospital, but newer variant LMAs have been developed for the last decade. The LMA with a reinforced airway tube, the LMA-Flexible(R), has been used for head and neck and intraoral surgery. The intubating LMA, the LMA-Fastrach(R), was developed for an aid to intubation in difficult airway as well as a ventilating device. The disposable LMA, the LMA-Unique(R), was introduced into the practice for an emergency airway. Furthermore, the recently developed LMA, the LMA-ProSeal(R), with a dual cuff and an additional drain tube, offers better seal and less risk of aspiration than the standard LMA. Perhaps, the LMA-ProSeal(R) may replace the LMA-Classic(R) in most of anesthesia practice in near future.