i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Fukuhara A, Okutani R, Oda Y. J Anesth. 2012; 27(1): 1-6

A prospective, randomised and controlled test of 134 children, aged three months to 15 years old, undergoing general anaesthesia were inserted with either i-gel® size 1.5-3 or ProSealTM equivalent to gauge insertion performance. Outcome variables included leak pressure, ease of insertion, success rate and fibreoptic view. Most outcomes were very similar, however fibreoptic view was significantly better with i-gel®.

Link to abstract.

Van Zundert TC, Brimacombe JR. Acta Anaesthesiol Belg. 2012; 63(1): 35-41

Random allocation of 150 patients to either i-gel®, LMA ProSeal® or LMA Supreme® to compare, primarily, oropharyngeal leak pressure and changes in pressure between 30 and 60 minutes after insertion. Results in this case showed that there were no significant differences in leak pressure.

Abstract text

Halgawi A, Massicotte N, Lallo A, Gauthier A, Boudreault D, Ruel M, Girard F. Anesth Analg. 2012; 114(1): 152-156

160 patients were randomised for blind intubation via i-gel® or LMA Fastrach®. First attempt and overall success rates were recorded and time to intubation was measured.

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.

Castle N, Pillay Y, Spencer N. Anaesthesia 2011; 66(11): 983-8

Six different supraglottic airway devices, including i-gel®, were tested by 58 paramedics for speed and ease of insertion in a manikin, whilst wearing either a standard uniform or chemical, biological, radiation, nuclear-person protective equipment (CBRN-PPE). During the latter test, i-gel® was the fastest of the six to insert with a mean insertion time of 19 seconds. Overall, the wearing of CBRN-PPE has a detrimental effect on insertion time of supraglottic airways.

Link to abstract.