Fiberoptic-guided intubation after insertion of the i-gel airway device in spontaneously breathing patients with difficult airway predicted: a prospective observational study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the viability of performing fiberoptic-guided orotracheal intubation through the i-gel airway device previously inserted in spontaneously breathing patients with predicted difficult airway to achieve a patent airway. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Operating room in a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-five adult patients with at least 3 difficult airway predictors or difficult airway management history were included. INTERVENTIONS: The i-gel device was inserted in spontaneous ventilation under oropharyngeal local anesthesia and sedation. After checking the adequate ventilation through the i-gel with capnography curve, general anesthesia was induced to introduce the endotracheal tube guided by fiberoptic bronchoscope. MEASUREMENTS: We recorded the i-gel insertion time (tgel), intubation time (tint), and O2 saturation in pulse oximetry in different moments: basal (t0), after 3 minutes of preoxygenation with a face mask at 100% fraction of inspired O2 (t1), after i-gel mask insertion (t2), and after intubation (t3). Adverse events during the procedure were also recorded, and patient discomfort was questioned. MAIN RESULTS: All patients were successfully intubated. O2 saturation in pulse oximetry values were (mean±SD): 96.9±1.22 (t0), 99.0±0.85 (t1), 96.2±2.37 (t2), and 96.0±2.54 (t3). tgel and tint were 38.0±7.76 seconds and 36.5±5.55 seconds (mean±SD), respectively. No serious adverse events were recorded, and no patient suffered airway damage. Visual analogue scale for patient discomfort was 2 (interquartile range, 1-3). CONCLUSIONS: i-gel insertion in spontaneously breathing patients avoids the "cannot ventilate" scenario. The subsequent fiberoptic-guided intubation through the i-gel is a safe and effective technique. More studies might be necessary to confirm the results presented, but we consider that the technique described is an adequate alternative to classic orotracheal intubation with fiberoptic bronchoscope in spontaneous ventilation for certain patients with predicted difficult airway.

A comparison of the I-Gel supraglottic device with endotracheal intubation for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction coil treatment.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of the I-gel airway with orotracheal intubation (OTI) for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) coil treatment in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with heterogeneous emphysema, since it has been proved that supraglottic airways have lower incidence of postoperative respiratory complaints compared to OTI. DESIGN: A comparative, prospective observational study was designed to assess the use of the I-gel airway compared with the OTI. SETTING: Bronchoscopy room at the University Hospital Fundación Jimenez Diaz, Madrid. Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Thirty-three procedures were carried out in 22 patients diagnosed with COPD with severe heterogeneous emphysema undergoing BLVR coil treatment under general anaesthesia. INTERVENTION: Seventeen procedures were carried out with I-gel and 16 with endotracheal tube. Airway device choice was left to the attendant anesthesiologist. MEASUREMENTS: Tidal volume, peak pressure, and the presence of gas leaks were compared. Adverse events during the procedure and within the first 3 hours later were also recorded. MAIN RESULTS: Ventilation parameters obtained showed no significant differences. Mean tidal volume was 466.6 ± 28.2 mL and 478.7 ± 34.0 mL (P > .05), mean peak pressure was 17.9 ± 2.5 cmH2O and 19.4 ± 2.4 cmH2O (P > .05) and mean gas leaks was 71 ± 17.6 mL and 79 ± 15.5 mL (P > .05) for I-gel group (IgelG) and endotracheal tube group respectively. No serious complications were reported. One case of pneumothorax was reported in the endotracheal tube group, which was resolved with a chest drainage tube without further complications. CONCLUSION: The I-gel airway ensures appropriate ventilation and makes the use of the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope quite easy. Therefore, we consider that the I-gel device is an effective and safe alternative to classical OTI for airway management in COPD patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema undergoing BLVR coil treatment.