i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Chauhan G, Nayar P, Seth A, Gupta K, Panwar M, Agrawal N. J Anaesth Clin Pharmacol 2013; 29(1): 56-60

Prospective, randomised study conducted in 80 fasted patients, split equally between i-gel® and PLMA, of ASA grades I/II. Ease and speed of insertions were primary outcomes measured, with i-gel® significantly quicker and easier than PLMA. Post-operative complications also lower in i-gel® group.

Link to abstract

Reiter DA, Strother CG, Weingart SD. Resuscitation 2013; 84(1): 93-7

Emergency Medicine residents split into teams took part in two simulated ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrests using a high fidelity simulator, testing whether use of a laryngeal mask airway improved resuscitation results. Time to airway placement, duration and success rate of airway placement and percent hands off time were among results measured. Authors conclude that use of a laryngeal mask and an IO device led to ‘significantly faster establishment of an airway’

Abstract

Schunk D, Ritzka M, Graf B, Trabold B. Emerg Med J 2012; 0: 1–4

66 healthcare professionals of differing experience in paediatric airway management participated in a study comparing laryngeal masks, i-gel® and laryngeal tube. Separated into three groups and after brief training in each, the participants were asked to place the device. Positioning and time to insert were recorded. Results show that i-gel® is superior to both laryngeal mask and laryngeal tube under these circumstances.

Link to abstract.

Agnoletti V, Piraccini E, Corso RM, Cittadini A, Maitan S, Della Rocca G, Gambale G. Minerva Anestesiol 2012; 79(1):107-8

Unlike other supraglottic airway devices, paediatric i-gel® does not cause artifacts when used for MRI. The authors of this study found, after evaluation, that the patient weight grading could be an inadequate criteria for i-gel® selection for MRI due to the potential for partial or even complete airway obstruction. This study does not rule out the use of a paediatric i-gel® entirely, merely pointing to the importance of size selection. The authors deduce that further studies in this area should be conducted to substantiate the evidence.

Link to abstract.