Abstract

Background: I-gel is an innovative supraglottic airway device designed to create non-inflatable anatomical seal, at the same time avoiding compression trauma likely with inflatable supraglottic airway devices. With the present study, I-gel was assessed for superiority in terms of ease of insertion against the classic laryngeal mask airway in anesthetized spontaneously breathing patients during short elective surgical procedures.

Methods: This single blind randomized controlled trial was conducted over two years at a tertiary care teaching hospital on 60 anesthetized spontaneously ventilated patients undergoing elective surgical procedures. Two groups were formed and compared on the basis of airway device used: Group I (cLMA group, 30 participants), Group II (I-gel group, participants). Number of attempts, insertion time and seal pressure were recorded for each procedure in both the groups. Parameters like Spo2, Etco2 were monitored during the surgical procedure. Selected potential immediate and delayed postoperative complications were also duly noted and compared.

Results: Mean insertion time of I-gel group was observed to be lesser (17.59 secs) than that of cLMA group (29.57 secs), while mean seal pressure of I gel (25.38 cm of H2O) was more than that of cLMA (22.33 cm of H2O) and the differences were statistically significant (p