i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

A comprehensive list of all known published clinical evidence on the device

Insertion of the i-gel® airway obstructed by the tongue

Taxak S, Gopinath A. Anaesthesiology 2010; 112(2): 500-501

This correspondence article responds to Theiler et al’s comments on the design of the i-gel® and subsequent effects of tongue size. The authors state that they have noticed a similar issue where the patient’s tongue is carried towards the back of the mouth by the i-gel®, which then cannot be inserted fully. The i-gel® had to be removed and re-inserted. The authors recommend stabilising the tongue before attempting to insert the device. A reply from the authors of the original report says that a tongue retractor should be used for this rather than fingers. This response also points out that although the tongue may also get caught between the teeth and the i-gel® bite block, this could happen with any supraglottic airway.

Link to abstract.