Comparison of two insertion techniques for I-Gel placement in paediatric patients: standard vs rotational methods

Abstract

: I-Gel has found increasing favour amongst anaesthesiologists for securing and maintaining a patent airway during routine as well as emergency surgeries in the paediatric population. The present prospective randomized study was conducted to compare the two techniques (standard and rotational methods) for I-Gel insertion in children; by assessing the first attempt success rate, insertion time and ease of insertion.: ASA I and II paediatric patients (1-6 years old) scheduled for brief elective surgical procedures lasting less than one hour were randomly allocated into two groups viz. Group A (n= 30) employing the standard technique, and Group B (n= 30) utilizing the rotational technique for I-Gel placement.: Group B subjects depicted a significantly higher first-attempt success rate vis a vis Group A subjects (P=0.040). The mean insertion time during the first attempt was longer in Group A (standard technique) as compared to Group B (rotational technique), but the difference was not statistically significant.: This study lends credence to the fact that the placement of I-Gel by employing the rotational method culminates in an increase in the first attempt success rate, suggestive of its potential superiority to the standard method