i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

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

Presumed air entrainment through the gastric port of a paediatric i-gel® device - manufacturer's reply

Chapman D. Anaesthesia. 2017 Feb;72(2):263-264.

Response to the letter from Seeley et al. Manufacturer posits that the reason for light anaesthesia and hence air entrainment, may have been caused by the tip of the device not being located in the upper oesophageal opening and the non-inflatable cuff located against the laryngeal framework, meaning the airway and gastric channels would not be isolated from each other. In the event described by the case report, reference to the user guide would suggest reinsertion of the device using a gentle jaw thrust, deep rotation or triple maneouvre to achieve optimum depth of insertion.

Link to abstract.

Presumed air entrainment through the gastric port of a paediatric i-gel device

Seeley JP, Pearson K, Baxter A. Anaesthesia. 2017 Feb;72(2):262-263.

Case report of light anaesthesia in a patient with a size 1.5 i-gel, despite adequate inspired concentration of sevoflurane and optimum positioning of the device by experienced operators. Entrainment was confirmed by capnography. No harm came to the patient. Authors pose the question of whether the gastric port inlet is positioned too anteriorly in paediatric i-gel sizes.

Link to abstract.

Tracheal intubation through I-gel performed during simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Wojewodzka-Zelezniakowicz M, Majer J. Am J Emerg Med. 2017 Jan 16.

Manikin study to compare the efficacy of ETI performed by 27 nurses using the i-gel as a guide with/without chest compressions. Results showed that in this scenario, nurses were able to perform blind intubation using the i-gel with 'high efficiency'.

Link to abstract.

A comparison of various supraglottic airway devices for fiberoptical guided tracheal intubation

Metterlein T, Dintenfelder A, Plank C, Graf B, Roth G. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2017 Mar - Apr;67(2):166-171

Random assignment of 52 adult patients to different supraglottic devices, from: Laryngeal Tube, LMA, i-gel, LMA Unique, LMA Supreme and Aura-once. After successful ventilation, device positioning was examined to assess glottic opening. Glottic view ranged from 40% for Laryngeal Tube to 90%, with i-gel recording 70%.

Link to abstract.

Comparison of the i-gel and other supraglottic airways in adult manikin studies: systematic review and meta-analysis

An J, Nam SB, Lee JS, Lee J, Yoo H, Lee HM, Kim MS. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Jan;96(1):e5801

Authors conducted a specialised search of study databases for eligible randomised controlled trials, setting device insertion time and first-attempt insertion success rate as their primary outcomes. In the 14 RCTs included, i-gel was faster than the majority of other supraglottic airways, with only three others recording shorter insertion times. Authors concluded that the 'unapparent advantage' of insertion success rate indicated the need for further evidence gathering in this area.

Link to abstract.