i-gel® from Intersurgical: clinical evidence listing

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

What are the factors associated with successful I-gel™ insertion and uneventful anaesthesia in children under age two?

Magne C, Pichenot V, Didier P, Bérard L, Lejus-Bourdeau C. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2016 Sep 23

Size 1 and 1.5 were used in this study on patients under the age of two. Successful insertion at the first attempt was recorded in 75% of cases.

Link to abstract

Observation of ventilation effects of I-gel™, Supreme™ and Ambu AuraOnce™ with respiratory dynamics monitoring in small children

Gu Z, Jin Q, Liu J, Chen L. J Clin Monit Comput. 2016 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print]

105 patients were including in this paediatric study, with primary outcomes including leak pressure and respiratory dynamic data. Authors conclude that the 'i-gel presented a better sealing effect and fewer adverse reactions.'

Link to abstract

Retrospective cohort investigation of perioperative upper respiratory events in children undergoing general anesthesia via a supraglottic airway

No HJ, Koo BW, Oh AY, Seo KS, Na HS, Ryu JH, Lee SW. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016 Jul;95(28):e4273.

Observational analysis of medical records of previous anaesthetic procedures at one university hospital. Comparison of the two anaesthetic agents included use of four supraglottic airways: LMA Flexible, LMA Supreme, LarySeal and i-gel.

Link to abstract

Spatial relationship of I-gel and Ambu® AuraOnce on pediatric airway: a randomized comparison based on three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging

Aqil M, Delvi B, Abujamea A, Alzahrani T, Alzahem A, Mansoor S, Aaljazaeri A. Minerva Anestesiol. 2016 Jun 17

Sixty paediatric patients were split between the two groups, with scans of head and neck performed after confirmation of device placement. Both devices 'significantly' reduced the area of glottis opening. i-gel produced greater dilation of upper oesophogeal sphincter. Authors conclude more studies needed to test these results to 'reduce morbidity on pediatric airway'.

Link to abstract

Abandoning use of 1st generation SAD - Throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

Original post by Pearson K. Reply by Cook TM. Anaesthesia Correspondence Website. 2016. Accessed 22 May.

In the original post, and in response to Cook's study on abandoning vintage laryngeal masks (Br J Anaesth. 2015 Oct;115(4):497-9), Pearson cautions against the 'universal replacement of 1st generation devices' especially considering sub-group care (paediatrics), versatility, training and cost, and instead suggests there should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. Pearson also comments on the significant move towards the use of i-gel in her hospital.

In response to this, Cook suggests clinicians use the best performing and safest device where available as first choice. Cook makes mention of the two published meta-analyses on i-gel in children: by Choi GJ and Maitra S.

Link to abstract