Gautier N, et al. - Manual oesophageal compression at the low left paratracheal level or cricoid level, which one affords a better strategy to prevent gastric antral air insufflation during positive-pressure ventilation by facemask in patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia, was investigated. After random allocation, three groups were examined: oesophageal compression by 30 N paratracheal force (paratracheal group); oesophageal compression by 30 N cricoid force (cricoid group); or no oesophageal compression (control group). As per observations, the application of manual force at the low left paratracheal level led to oesophageal compression and this strategy was found to be more effective than cricoid force in preventing air entry into the gastric antrum during positive-pressure ventilation by facemask.