i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

A comprehensive list of all known published clinical evidence on the device

Are nurses able to perform blind intubation? Randomized comparison of I-gel and laryngeal mask airway

Ladny JR, Bielski K, Szarpak L, Cieciel M, Konski R, Smereka J. Am J Emerg Med. 2017 May; 35(5): 786-787

Manikin study to assess effectiveness of blind intubation through the i-gel, LMA Classic and a standard cuffed tracheal tube, performed by 34 nurses in CPR conditions across two scenarios (with and without chest compressions). Primary measure was time to intubation. i-gel recorded a lower median time to intubation and higher, statistically significant, successful insertion rates in both scenarios. Performing compressions doesn't significantly affect time to perform blind intubation in this setting, but reduces the effectiveness of first intubation attempt. i-gel was faster in both scenarios.

Link to abstract.

Competence in the use of supraglottic airways by Australian surf lifesavers for cardiac arrest ventilation in a manikin

Holbery-Morgan L, Angel C, Murphy M, Carew J, Douglas F, Murphy R, Hood N, Rechtman A, Scarff C, Simpson N, Stewardson A, Steinfort D, Radford S, Douglas N, Johnson D. Emerg Med Australas. 2017 Feb;29(1):63-68

Lifesavers in Australia who already use pocket masks and BVMs were trained to use the LMA and i-gel on a manikin. Time to effective ventilation was similar between the pocket mask, BVM and i-gel, but longer for LMA. Authors feel there is a limited role for supraglottic airway devices in this scenario.

Link to abstract.

A comparison of various supraglottic airway devices for fiberoptical guided tracheal intubation

Metterlein T, Dintenfelder A, Plank C, Graf B, Roth G. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2017 Mar - Apr;67(2):166-171

Random assignment of 52 adult patients to different supraglottic devices, from: Laryngeal Tube, LMA, i-gel, LMA Unique, LMA Supreme and Aura-once. After successful ventilation, device positioning was examined to assess glottic opening. Glottic view ranged from 40% for Laryngeal Tube to 90%, with i-gel recording 70%.

Link to abstract.

Comparison of the i-gel and other supraglottic airways in adult manikin studies: systematic review and meta-analysis

An J, Nam SB, Lee JS, Lee J, Yoo H, Lee HM, Kim MS. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Jan;96(1):e5801

Authors conducted a specialised search of study databases for eligible randomised controlled trials, setting device insertion time and first-attempt insertion success rate as their primary outcomes. In the 14 RCTs included, i-gel was faster than the majority of other supraglottic airways, with only three others recording shorter insertion times. Authors concluded that the 'unapparent advantage' of insertion success rate indicated the need for further evidence gathering in this area.

Link to abstract.

Comparison of remifentanil EC50 for facilitating i-gel and laryngeal mask airway insertion with propofol anesthesia

Choi JB, Kwak HJ, Lee KC, Lee SR, Lee SY, Kim JY. J Anesth. J Anesth. 2016 Jun;30(3):377-83

Randomised study comparing 41 female patients across two groups: i-gel and LMA, undergoing anaesthesia. EC50 of remifentanil concentration for i-gel insertion was significantly lower.

Link to abstract