i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Donaldson W, Abraham A, Deighan M, Michalek P. Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2011; 155(2): 155–164

Devices were generally comparable with high overall and first-attempt success rates. The i-gel® had a significantly higher seal pressure (30.4 compared to 27.8cm H2O) and a lower incidence of postoperative complications.

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Ruetzler K, Roessler B, Potura L, Priemayr A, Robak O, Schuster E, Frass M. Resuscitation 2011; 82 (5): 593-597

41 paramedics with no previous experience watched a lecture and demonstration. They then attempted to insert each of six supraglottic airways and an ET tube into a manikin in random order. After three months, all participants were assessed again without receiving further training. All supraglottic airways except ProSealTM were more successful than the ET tube. i-gel®, Unique® and LT-DTM had significantly faster times to insertion and ventilation than the other devices. There was no significant difference in success rates for supraglottic airways after three months, however, ET tube insertion rates decreased from 78% to 58% in that time.

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Kleine-Brueggeney M, Theiler L, Urwyler B, Vogt A, Greif R. Br J Anaesth 2011; 107(2): 251-7

A prospective, randomised, controlled trial comparing the success rate of fibreoptic-guided tracheal intubation using Rüsch® PVC tracheal tube through i-gel® with sILMATM tracheal tube through sILMATM. First-attempt success rate was primary outcome. 96% of 76 patients were successful using i-gel®, compared to 90% of 71 in the sILMATM group.

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Stroumpoulis K, Isaia C, Bassiakou E, Pantazapoulos I, Troupis G, Mazarakis A, Demestiha T, Xanthos T. Eur J Emerg Med 2011; 19(1): 24-7

116 volunteer doctors were assigned to either a novice or experienced group depending on their level of LMA® insertion experience. After a brief training session the volunteers were randomly allocated to insertion of the cLMA and i-gel® in a manikin. Success rate, insertion time and perceived ease of use were recorded. Success rate on the first attempt was significantly higher with the i-gel® in both user groups. The i-gel® produced similar success rates for novices and experienced users, but the cLMA had a lower success rate amongst novices. All insertions were successful by the second attempt. Insertion time was significantly shorter with the i-gel®, although the authors note that this may be due to the lack of an inflatable cuff.

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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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