A comparison of postoperative throat and neck complaints after the use of the i-gel and the La Premiere disposable laryngeal mask: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Many supralaryngeal airway devices are available. Because of the absence of an inflatable cuff, we hypothesized that use of the i-gel should produce fewer postoperative throat and neck complaints compared with a standard disposable laryngeal mask (LM).


METHODS
Two hundred eighteen patients were randomized to have either an i-gel or La Premiere LM airway placed for airway management. Patients were interviewed postoperatively for throat and neck complaints at 1, 24, and 48 h. Interviewers and patients were blinded to the device used.


RESULTS
One hundred nine patients had an i-gel and 103 had a La Premiere supraglottic device inserted. The incidence of sore throat was significantly lower with the i-gel than with LM at 1 (6 vs 32), 24 (7 vs 48), and 48 h (5 vs 25). Similar results were seen for dysphagia. The incidence of neck pain was also lower for the i-gel at 24 (1 vs 7) and 48 h (1 vs 7).


CONCLUSIONS
In this randomized study, the i-gel supraglottic device resulted in a lower incidence of throat and neck complaints than the La Premiere LM airway.
Keijzer
Christiaan
C
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mail@keijzer.com
Buitelaar
Dirk R
DR
Efthymiou
Katina M
KM
Srámek
Michael
M
ten Cate
Julia
J
Ronday
May
M
Stoppa
Tino
T
Huitink
Johannes M
JM
Schutte
Peter F
PF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017214:Laryngeal Masks / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult