Crossover comparison of the laryngeal mask supreme and the i-gel in simulated difficult airway scenario in anesthetized patients.
BACKGROUND
The single-use supraglottic airway devices LMA-Supreme (LMA-S; Laryngeal Mask Company, Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom) and i-gel (Intersurgical Ltd, Wokingham, Berkshire, United Kingdom) have a second tube for gastric tube insertion. Only the LMA-S has an inflatable cuff. They have the same clinical indications and might be useful for difficult airway management. This prospective, crossover, randomized controlled trial was performed in a simulated difficult airway scenario using an extrication collar limiting mouth opening and neck movement.


METHODS
Sixty patients were included. Both devices were placed in random order in each patient. Primary outcome was overall success rate. Other measurements were time to successful ventilation, airway leak pressure, fiberoptic glottic view, and adverse events.


RESULTS
Success rate for the LMA-S was 95% versus 93% for the i-gel (P = 1.000). LMA-S needed shorter insertion time (34 +/- 12 s vs. 42 +/- 23 s, P = 0.024). Tidal volumes and airway leak pressure were similar (LMA-S 26 +/- 8 cm H20; i-gel 27 +/- 9 cm H20; P = 0.441). Fiberoptic view through the i-gel showed less epiglottic downfolding. Overall agreement in insertion outcome was 54 (successes) and 1 (failure) or 55 (92%) of 60 patients. The difference in success rate was 1.7% (95% CI -11.3% to 7.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Both airway devices had similar insertion success and clinical performance in the simulated difficult airway situation. The authors found less epiglottic downfolding and better fiberoptic view but longer insertion time with the i-gel. Our study shows that both devices are feasible for emergency airway management in patients with reduced neck movement and limited mouth opening.
Theiler
Lorenz G
LG
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Kleine-Brueggeney
Maren
M
Kaiser
Dagmar
D
Urwyler
Natalie
N
Luyet
Cedric
C
Vogt
Andreas
A
Greif
Robert
R
Unibe
M M E
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult