Vinuth Krishna Murthy1 , Krishna Prasad Patla2
BACKGROUND Supraglottic airway devices (SADs) have been widely used as an alternative to tracheal intubation during general anaesthesia. They are easily inserted, better tolerated, with fewer haemodynamic changes and decreased airway morbidity. The Proseal Laryngeal Mask Airway (PLMA) and the i-gel airway are the two SADs which provide higher airway leak pressures than the classic LMA. Both these devices have separate channels for gastric tube insertion and are recommended for spontaneous as well as controlled ventilation. METHODS A prospective randomized study was conducted on 76 patients who were posted for various elective short duration surgical / diagnostic procedures under general anaesthesia. They were randomly divided by closed envelope method into two groups of 38 patients each, Group I (i-gel) and Group P (PLMA). All the patients were induced with general anaesthesia and the planned supraglottic airway was inserted with head in neutral position. Ease of insertion, number of insertion attempts and incidence of adverse effects were assessed. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of ease of insertion, number of insertion attempts and incidence of adverse effects but there was significant statistical difference in the mean duration of insertion between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Insertion of i-gel was significantly easier and more rapid than insertion of PLMA. Both supraglottic airway devices are ideal and can be recommended as effective alternatives to endotracheal tube for short duration surgeries under general anaesthesia without muscle relaxation.
