The Need
Airway obstruction is among the more common complications during monitored anesthesia care (MAC), because patients are sedated but not intubated. The sedative agents that make the procedure tolerable are the same agents that reduce the pharyngeal muscle tone holding the airway open.
The incidence is higher than most estimates assume. Using capnography, Soto and colleagues found apnea
lasting more than 20 seconds in 26% of patients during MAC.¹ A subsequent study by the same group found apnea exceeding 60 seconds in 49.5% of 99 patients.²
Risk increases with:
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Deeper sedation, particularly with propofol or opioids
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Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea
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Older age
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Supine positioning
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Procedures involving the head, neck, or airway
MAC therefore requires continuous monitoring and readiness to intervene quickly — jaw thrust, chin lift, airway adjunct placement — often repeatedly, and often at the expense of attention to the rest of the anesthetic.
¹ Soto RG, Fu ES, Vila H Jr, Miguel RV. Capnography accurately detects apnea during monitored anesthesia care. Anesth Analg. 2004;99(2):379–82.
² Soto RG, Fu ES, Smith RA, Miguel RV. Bispectral index and the incidence of apnea during monitored anesthesia care. Ambul Surg. 2005;12(2):81–4.
How SAM Helps
Stable Positioning
Maintains the sniffing position throughout the procedure, resisting the backward slide into an obstructed position.
Fewer Interruptions
Reduces the need to stop and reposition the airway mid-procedure, keeping attention on the rest of the anesthetic.
Non-Metallic Construction
Non-metallic construction enables use in MRI and other imaging modalities.
Single Use
Disposable construction eliminates sterilization and reprocessing requirements.
Cost Conscious Implementation
Low-cost design to support operational efficiency while maintaining patient safety standards.
Regulatory and Intellectual Property
• FDA Class I medical device
• Non-Significant Risk (NSR) designation
• Patent protected (U.S. Patents 11,523,961 and 11,806,285)
Quality Manufacturing
Manufactured, assembled, and packaged at Klann Plastics in Waynesboro, Virginia using medical-grade materials.
Klann Plastics is a ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer, UL recognized molder, and a contract manufacturer of medical devices that are FDA listed.
