Comparative study between I–gel and Classic LMA in anaesthetized, spontaneously ventilating patients

Dr. Alekhya Kasturi; Dr. K. Venkateswara Rao

Volume : VI, Issue : V, May - 2016

Comparative study between I–gel and Classic LMA in anaesthetized, spontaneously ventilating patients

Dr. Alekhya Kasturi, Dr. K. Venkateswara Rao

Abstract :

Maintenance of airway is an integral part of general anaesthesia. Hemodynamic changes are major hazards of general endotracheal anesthesia and are probably generated by direct laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Supraglottic airway devices have been widely used as an alternative to tracheal intubation during general anaesthesia. Laryngeal mask airway is a supraglottic airway device with an inflatable cuff forming a low pressure seal around the laryngeal inlet and permitting ventilation. The i–gel is a novel supraglottic airway device made of thermoplastic elastomer which is soft, gel–like and transparent and does not have an inflatable cuff. In view of this, the present study was undertaken to compare the performance of two supraglottic airway devices classic laryngeal mask airway and i–gel in anaesthetized, spontaneously ventilating adult patients posted for elective surgeries under general anaesthesia. One hundred patients, scheduled for various elective surgical procedures under general anaesthesia belonging to ASA class I and II were included in the study and were randomly divided into two groups with 50 patients in each group. Both the devices were compared in relation to the ease of insertion, number of insertion attempts, time of insertion, airway leak pressure, haemodynamic changes, intra and post operative complications. The demographic and hemodynamic parameters did not show any difference between the two devices. Statiscally the times of insertion (17.12±3.42 vs. 25.62±5.28 seconds) and airway leak pressure (26.38±2.76 vs. 19.70±2.10 cm of H20) were lower for i–gel compared to c–LMA