A clinical evaluation of i-gel(TM) during general anesthesia in children

Kim, Hyuk; Lee, Seungyoon; Shin, Ho Jin; Lee, Ji Hyeon; Choi, So Ron; Chung, Chan Jong

doi:2015.10.1.46

Anesth Pain Med > Volume 10(1); 2015 > Article

Clinical Research

Pediatric Anesthesia

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2015;10(1):46-51.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2015.10.1.46 Published online January 31, 2015.

A clinical evaluation of i-gel(TM) during general anesthesia in children

Hyuk Kim, Seungyoon Lee, Ho Jin Shin, Ji Hyeon Lee, So Ron Choi, Chan Jong Chung

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. cjchung@dau.ac.kr

Received: 15 September 2014 • Revised: 1 October 2014 • Accepted: 16 October 2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The i-gel(TM) (i-gel) is a new single-use supraglottic airway device with a non-inflatable cuff. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of the i-gel during general anesthesia in children.
METHODS
Ninety-eight children at ASA physical status I-II who underwent general anesthesia were included in this prospective observatory study. The size of the i-gel was selected based on patient's body weight. We evaluated success rates, insertion time, airway leak pressure, fiberoptic examination, airway manipulation, airway quality, and postoperative complications.
RESULTS
The first-attempt success rate was 96.9% with overall success rate of 98.0%. The insertion time was 15.6 +/- 4.7 seconds. The airway leak pressure was 28.2 +/- 5.9 cmH2O. The maximal peak inspiratory pressure was 15.4 +/- 3.0 cmH2O. On fiberoptic examination, vocal cords were visible in 86.5% of patients. During maintenance of anesthesia, manipulations of i-gel were required for 32 (33.3%) children to maintain airway. Controlled ventilation was possible in all cases, although excess leak transiently occurred in three children. Postoperative complications including blood-staining on device, cough, and sore throat were infrequent.
CONCLUSIONS
The i-gel size at 1.5-2.5 provided a satisfactory airway and ventilation during anesthesia in children. However, i-gel required a number of manipulations to maintain patency of airway during general anesthesia.

Key Words: i-gel, Pediatric anesthesia, Supraglottic airway device