i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Kang H, Lee Y, Lee S, Song Y, Lim TH, Oh J, Lee J, Shin H. PLoS One. 2018 Apr 19;13(4):e0195745

This study carried out an investigation on the use of two respirators (fold- and cup-type) by physicians (n=26) as protection against infections during intubation procedures with three different devices (DL, GlideScope and i-gel). Results showed a lower protection level when wearing the cup-type respirator during intubation with DL (75%) compared to GlideScope (100%) and i-gel (100%). Therefore, the type of airway device selected for intubation may impact on the level of protection of certain types of respirators. However, due to the limited number of respirators tested and the small sample size, additional larger studies are needed to validate these results.

Link to abstract.

Sen S, Mitra K, Ganguli S, Mukherji S. Anesth Essays Res. 2018 Jan-Mar;12(1):288-290

Peri-operative management of patients with haemophilia involves the risks of excessive bleeding. This is especially true when securing the patient’s airways during anaesthesia with standard instrumentation (e.g. direct laryngoscopy), as this could lead to severe haemorrhage. Therefore, this case study assessed the efficacy of the i-gel in the airway management of a patient with haemophilia undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Link to abstract.

Lee YC, Yoon KS, Park SY, Choi SR, Chung CJ. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2018 Feb;71(1):37-42. 

In this study the performance of the i-gel and the LMA Supreme was evaluated in infants (ASA I and II) undergoing general anaesthesia. 60 patients were randomly assigned to the i-gel and the LMAS and the size of the devices was selected in accordance to the infant’s weight. A range of parameters including oropharyngeal leak pressure (primary outcome), fiberoptic view, airway quality, airway manipulations, insertion success rate and time (secondary outcomes) were investigated to determine the efficacy and safety of the two devices. Insertion time was shorter for the i-gel group.

Link to abstract.

L'Hermite J, Dubout E, Bouvet S, Bracoud LH, Cuvillon P, Coussaye JE, Ripart J. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2017 Jul;34(7):417-424

Comparison of the incidence of sore throat in 546 patients following use of LMA Unique, LMA Supreme and the i-gel. Primary outcome was incidence 24 hours postoperatively. Authors concluded that recordings were not significantly different between the three devices.

Link to abstract

Alzahem AM, Aqil M, Alzahrani TA, Aljazaeri AH. Saudi Med J. 2017 May;38(5):482-490

Randomised assignment of 112 patients to either AuraOnce or i-gel groups in which oropharyngeal leak pressure, ease of insertion and fibreoptic viewing were measured. i-gel recorded more favourable leak pressures and superior fibreoptic viewing.

Link to abstract.