i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

Fukuhara A, Okutani R, Oda Y. J Anesth. 2012; 27(1): 1-6

A prospective, randomised and controlled test of 134 children, aged three months to 15 years old, undergoing general anaesthesia were inserted with either i-gel® size 1.5-3 or ProSealTM equivalent to gauge insertion performance. Outcome variables included leak pressure, ease of insertion, success rate and fibreoptic view. Most outcomes were very similar, however fibreoptic view was significantly better with i-gel®.

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.

Monclus E, Garces A, Vassileva I, Sanchez A, Banchs R. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2010; 27(47): 155

70 children who were already scheduled for a cranial MRI scan took part in this study. The epiglottis was found to be in the bowl of the i-gel® in all patients, however the device still performed well.

Link to abstract.

Beylacq L, Bordes M, Semjen F, Cros AM. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2009; 53(3): 376-379

This study evaluated the i-gel® in 50 children above 30kg undergoing short-duration surgery. The parameters measured included: ease of insertion, seal pressure, ease of inserting a gastric tube and post operative complications. The first time insertion success rate was 100%. No laryngeal leak occurred. The mean seal pressure was 24.9cm H20. The authors concluded that i-gel® was very easy to insert and that ‘no learning curve is needed before a high success insertion rate is obtained. The i-gel® appears to be safe for paediatric management’.

Link to abstract.