i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Ye Q, Wu D, Fang W, Wong GTC, Lu Y.  BMC Anesthesiol. 2020;20(1):136. Published 2020 Jun 3.

This randomised observational study set out to evaluate and compare the antral cross-sectional area (CSA) in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgery when managed with different supraglottic airway devices (SAD). One hundred ASA I and II female patients were assessed for the study enrolment and subsequently randomly allocated into three groups of different ventilation devices, which included LMA-Supreme (Group S), I-gel (Group I) or tracheal tube (Group T). Several parameters were measured including antral cross-sectional area (primary outcome), haemodynamic parameters and postoperative morbidity such as sore throat, hoarseness, dry throat, nausea and vomiting (secondary outcomes). Findings have demonstrated that the antral CSA was not significantly different among three groups before induction after induction and at the end of surgery. On the other hand, the haemodynamic variables were significantly higher in the tracheal tube group than in the LMA-Supreme and I-gel groups after insertion and after removal. Interestingly, sore throat was detected in none in the I-gel group compare to two patients in the LMA-Supreme group and fifteen patients in the tracheal tube group. Moreover, hoarseness was detected in one in the I-gel group, whereas two patients in the LMA-Supreme group and eleven patients in the tracheal tube group suffered from this postoperative adverse event.

Conclusions: The SADs do not cause obvious gastric insufflation. Thus, LMA-Supreme and I-gel can be widely used as alternative to endotracheal intubation for the short laparoscopic gynaecological surgery.

Link to abstract

Featuring all known evidence on the use of i-gel in a resuscitation and pre-hospital setting, the booklet includes even more adult, paediatric and manikin studies, case reports and a section on cardiocerebral resuscitation and passive oxygenation.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, i-gel remains an important option for managing the airway in the emergency and pre-hospital setting, so the opportunity to review the published evidence for the device at this time is particularly valuable.

You can now download the PDF from the i-gel website and through the Education page.

Clinical evidence on the i-gel is also available to view on our evidence database, which includes all studies mentioned in both this bibliography and the standard version.

We hope you find the bibliography and clinical database useful in reviewing evidence published on the i-gel device.

Cook TM, El-Boghdadly K, McGuire B, McNarry AF, Patel A, Higgs A. Anaesthesia 2020 Jun; 75(6): 785-799

Severe acute respiratory syndrome‐corona virus‐2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), is highly contagious. Airway management of patients with COVID‐19 is high risk to staff and patients. We aimed to develop principles for airway management of patients with COVID‐19 to encourage safe, accurate and swift performance. This consensus statement has been brought together at short notice to advise on airway management for patients with COVID‐19, drawing on published literature and immediately available information from clinicians and experts. Recommendations on the prevention of contamination of healthcare workers, the choice of staff involved in airway management, the training required and the selection of equipment are discussed. The fundamental principles of airway management in these settings are described for: emergency tracheal intubation; predicted or unexpected difficult tracheal intubation; cardiac arrest; anaesthetic care; and tracheal extubation. We provide figures to support clinicians in safe airway management of patients with COVID‐19. The advice in this document is designed to be adapted in line with local workplace policies.

Link to abstract