i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Woodall NM, Cook TM. Br J Anaesth 2011; 106 (2): 266-271

There are 309 NHS hospitals that carry out surgery. In this study, a volunteer from each of these hospitals reported the main airway management technique used in every general anaesthetic within a specified two-week period. This data was then used to estimate the annual use of various airway devices. The total number of procedures was 114,904, leading to an annual estimate of 2.9 million. Supraglottic airways were used in 56.2% of cases. The i-gel® was the second most popular choice of supraglottic airway with 4,574 cases. This equates to 7.1% of supraglottic airways and 4% of all devices used.

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Berger M, Corso RM, Piraccini E, Agnoletti VA, Valtancoli E, Gambale G. Anaesth Intensive Care 2011; 39(1): 136

A 36-year-old morbidly obese pregnant woman presented for emergency caesarian was anaesthetised using RSI. To limit insertion attempts an i-gel® was used, successfully inserted at the first attempt and a healthy baby was delivered with no further complication to the mother. Concluded that i-gel® is likely to be the better airway management device when speed is of the essence, compared to other laryngeal masks.

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Cook T, Howes B. CEACCP 2010; 11 (2): 56-61

This review article looks at the evidence for the efficacy of supraglottic airway devices. The authors use the cLMA as a standard for comparison. The ProSealTM, i-gel®, LMA Supreme® and LTS Mk. IITM are all discussed. Most of the i-gel® literature is positive and shows a high level of successful use. However, more clinical trials need to take place in order to confirm these findings.

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Corso RM, Piraccini E, Agnoletti V, Gambale G. Anaesth Intensive Care 2010; 38(1): 211

This report details the use of an i-gel® to provide an airway for a 63-year-old male with severe subglottic swelling. Two prior attempts at insertion of a gum elastic bougie failed and facemask ventilation was ineffective. A well-known brand of laryngeal mask was inserted, but ventilation was impossible, so it was removed and replaced with an i-gel®. Subsequent intubation through the i-gel® was performed successfully with a flexible fibrescope.

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Teoh WH, Lee KM, Suhitharan T, Yahaya Z, Teo MM, Sia AT. Anaesthesia 2010; 65(12): 1173-1179

This study compared the i-gel® to the LMA Supreme® for the seal pressure during gynaecological laparoscopic surgery in the Trendelenburg position in 100 female patients. There was no difference in the oropharyngeal leak pressure with similar success rates for first time insertion and times to first capnograph trace. Both devices proved to be equally effective for gynaecological laparoscopic procedures.

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