title: [Sniffing Position and i-gel Rotation Approach for i-gel Insertion under General Anesthesia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insertion assistance techniques, such as the sniffing position (SP) and i-gel? rotation approach (RA), are recommended in the i-gel supraglottic airway device insertion manual. The usefulness of these techniques was evaluated, in this study, under general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 50 adult patients, the i-gel was inserted with the patient in the mild-SP with 5 degrees head extention at first attempt. When resistance was encountered during insertion or airway patency was not obtained after insertion, the i-gel was re-inserted with the patient in the full-SP with maximum head extention during second attempt. When re-insertion failed, the i-gel was inserted with the patient in the full-SP and by using the i-gel RA during third attempt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Airway patency was established in the mild-SP in 36 of 50 patients, in the full-SP in 11 of the remaining 14, and in the full-SP with the i-gel RA in the remaining 3. The average insertion time was 24.0 s during the first attempt, 22.2 s during the second, and 18.2 s during the third. No major complications were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the full-SP and the i-gel RA can be used for i-gel insertion.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murashima
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kayashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning; D012399:Rotation