i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Hiltunen P, Jäntti H, Silfvast T, Kuisma M, Kurola J. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2016; 24: 49

Data on patients with OHCA and attempted resuscitation in an area of Finland over a six-month period in 2010 was collected, with airway techniques and adverse events recorded. Of the 614 patients, 67% were treated with endotracheal intubation and 30% with supraglottic airway devices.  Overall survival to hospital discharge was 17.8%.

Link to abstract

El-Boghdadly K, Bailer R, Wiles M. Anaesthesia 2016;71(6):706-17

Review into prevalence of sore throat after use of supraglottic airway devices against tracheal intubation in general anaesthesia. Authors suggest that, in adults, i-gel results in a lower incidence of post-operative sore throat.

Link to abstract

Benger J, Coates D, Davies S, Greenwood R, Nolan J, Rhys M, Thomas M, Voss S. Br J Anaesth. 2016;116(2):262-8

A cluster randomised trial of paramedics within one ambulance service in England over a 12-month period, split into groups using either the i-gel or LMA Supreme or usual practice for all patients with non-traumatic adult OHCA. Primary outcome was study feasibility, including recruitment and protocol adherence. Secondary outcomes included survival to hospital discharge and to 90 days. 184 of 535 paramedics consented, with 615 patients recruited. The LMA Supreme arm was suspended following 'adverse incidents'. No differences were reported in secondary outcomes.

Link to abstract

Michálek P, Donaldson W, McAleavey F, Abraham A, Mathers RJ, Telford C. Prague Med Rep. 2016;117(4):164-175

Comparative study of three supraglottic airways as conduits in patients with predicted difficult laryngoscopy. Primary outcome measure was success rate of tracheal intubation through the device. No statistical difference was recorded in success rates between devices, however i-gel proved quicker to insert compared to ILMA and the intubation time was shorter compared to CTrach. i-gel is a suitable alternative to sILMA and CTrach in this scenario, and the shorter times recorded may provide an advantage in cases of difficult oxygenation.

Link to abstract.

Radhika KS, Sripriya R, Ravishankar M, Hemanth Kumar VR, Jaya V, Parthasarathy S. Anesth Essays Res. 2016;10(1):88-93

Patients were split into i-gel and LMA Supreme groups, with insertion attempts, time and any manoeuvres needed forming outcomes, along with peak inspiratory pressure (PIP).  LMA-S was inserted successfully in more patients, but with no significant difference in PIP.

Link to abstract