i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Emmerich M, Tiesmeier J. Minerva Anestesiol 2012; 78(10): 1169-70

A 69-year-old man with a history of difficult intubation could not be intubated via conventional bronchoscopy. Different ETT sizes and airway manoeuvres were tried without success, until the bronchoscope was properly placed through a size 5 i-gel. Operation was completed without complication and the patient reported no neck discomfort or difficulty breathing.

Abstract text

Gupta Richa, Gupta Ruchi, Wadhawan S, Bhadoria P. J Anaesth Clin Pharmacol 2012; 28(3): 397–398

Report of i-gel® (size 2.5) used as a conduit for intubation on a nine-year-old girl scheduled for post-burn contracture with limited neck extension. Spontaneous ventilation and depth of anaesthesia were maintained, even after removal of the i-gel®. Authors conclude that fibreoptic ventilation through i-gel® is a ‘highly successful technique’.

Link to abstract.

Nakano S, Uda R, Nakajima O, Yamamoto N, Akatsuka M. Masui 2012; 61(7): 765-8

Case of the use of i-gel as preferred airway device and vehicle for tracheal intubation in a 59-year-old male with known Kommerell’s diverticulum, scheduled for repair of a tibial fracture under general anaesthesia. The i-gel® resulted in an uneventful operation with both controlled and spontaneous respiration, and the authors’ conclude that i-gel® is a useful device in such specific cases.

Abstract text

Taxak S, Bhardwaj M, Gopinath A. J Anaesth Clin Pharmacol 2012; 28(2): 263–264

Two successful cases of paediatric i-gel® used to manage the airway during brain MRI under general anaesthesia. The first, a three-month-old, was maintained using size one; whilst a size two was used on the second case, a boy aged three-and-a-half with a Mallampati score of two. Usual capnography readings taken to ensure secure placement, and in both cases there was no evidence of desaturation. Compared to other laryngeal mask airways, the authors conclude that i-gel® suffers no risk of displacement, meaning intubation does not have to be repeated on known sensitive patients. They also deduce that i-gel® has other advantages, including ease of insertion and minimum adverse effects on removal of the device. Large studies are required, however, to ‘confirm its usefulness’.

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.