i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

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.

Lai CJ, Liu CM, Wu CY, Tsai FF, Tseng PH, Fan SZ. BMC Anesthesiol. 2017 Jan 6;17(1):3

Randomised controlled trial of 40 patients divided equally between i-gel and ETT groups. Leak fraction was the primary outcome, defined as leak volume divided by inspired tidal volume. In the LPT position, no difference was recorded in the leak fraction. In the i-gel group there was 'notably less' leakage in LPT position than in supine - this difference was not observed in the ETT group. Incidence of postoperative sore throat was significantly lower in the i-gel group.

Link to abstract.

Gupta K, Rastogi B, Gupta PK, Singh I, Singh VP, Jain M. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2016 Dec;69(6):573-578.

Sixty female patients split in to equal groups, one receiving a dexmedetomidine dose, the other saline as control. Patients receiving the dose infusion showed significantly less bleeding in the surgical field.

Link to abstract.

Watanabe A, Edanaga M, Ichinose H, Yamakage M. J Clin Anesth. 2016 Nov;34:223-6

Randomised study comparing insertion attempts, insertion time and postoperative complications (among other parameters recorded) on 37 adult patients after concerns that the i-gel sometimes fails to fit or ventilate sufficiently in Japanese patients. Results showed that two patients in the Air-Qsp group failed, compared to one in the i-gel group.

Link to abstract

Nirupa R, Gombar S, Ahuja V, Sharma P. Indian J Anaesth. 2016 Oct;60(10):726-731

Prospective, randomised controlled study on 100 patients, with the primary outcome being leak pressure assessed at five minutes. i-gel recorded 'superior' pressure and shorter insertion times compared to ProSeal.

Link to abstract