comparative study of tracheal intubation using i-gel[TM]and air-Q[TM] intubating LMA

ABSTRACT

Various supraglottic devices [SGD's] have been used as a conduit for tracheal intubation particularly in difficult airway situations when an endotracheal tube is a must. Various SGD's tried for this purpose include Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway also called the C-Trach[TM]laryngeal mask, LMA Fastrach[TM] air-Q[TM] intubating LMA and the i-gel[TM] supraglottic airway. In this study we used air-Q[TM] LMA and i-gel[TM] for blind tracheal intubation in patients with normal airways and compared the rates of successful intubation. 100 patients were randomly divided into two groups. For Group A, air-Q™ was used for blind tracheal intubation while for Group B i-gel[TM] LMA was used. Correct placement of ETT was confirmed by capnography. Success rate for blind tracheal intubation through air-Q[TM] was 82% while that for i-gel it was 54% [p-value 0.003]. The success rate for blind tracheal intubation through air-Q[TM] intubating laryngeal mask airway is higher as compared to that for blind tracheal intubation through i-gel[TM]