[A comparison of the single-use i-gel with the reusable laryngeal mask airway Proseal in anesthetized adult patients in Japanese population].

Background: The i-gel is a newly developed, cuffless and single-use supraglottic airway device with gastric drain conduit. This study was designed to compare the performance of the i-gel with the reusable LMA Proseal when used during anesthesia in spontaneously breathing adult patients.

Methods: One hundred adult patients were studied in a prospective randomized controlled study. Insertion time, success rate at the first attempt, necessity for finger insertion along with the device, leak pressure, success rate for gastric tube placement, and the incidence of blood staining on removal, sore throat and hoarseness were compared. For statistical analyses, Student's t test, Mann-Whitney's U test, and Fisher's exact test were used where appropriate, and P<0.01 considered significant.

Results: I-gel provided significantly faster insertion time (4.4 vs 16 seconds, P < 0.01). Success rates were higher for i-gel, and i-gel requiring no finger insertion with the device. Leak pressure was similar just after insertion, but higher for i-gel after 10 minutes from insertion (36 vs 28 cmH2O, P < 0.01). Success rate for gastric tube placement and the incidence of complications were similar.

Conclusions: Our result indicated that i-gel can be inserted faster without inserting practitioners' finger into patient oral cavity. Leak pressure was sufficient for clinical use in spontaneous breathing anesthetized adult patients.