Comparison of two regimes of thiopental and propofol for I-gel supraglottic airway device insertion

BACKGROUND: The I-gel mask is a novel supraglottic airway device. The objective of this study is to compare the insertion conditions for I-gel, using thiopental in two dosage regimes and propofol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind design was used. Ninety patients included in the study were classified at induction into group I that received intravenous 2.5 mg.Kg-1 propofol, group II that received 6 mg.Kg-1 thiopental and group III that received 7 mg.Kg-1 thiopental. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded immediately before, after insertion and 5 minutes later, as well as the baseline hemodynamic variables. Tolerance of I-gel insertion was assessed using a scoring system. RESULTS: Insertion conditions for I-gel supraglottic airway device showed significantly higher incidence of jaw relaxation (P=0.0008, 0.02 in groups I and III, respectively). No significant difference was found in the incidence of breath holding, lacrimation and stridor between the groups (P>0.05). The incidence of coughing/movement was significantly less in groups I and III (P=0.012, 0.04, respectively). Insertion time was significantly less in groups I and III (P<0.0001). The changes in MABP and HR were significantly less in groups I and III (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The use of thiopental at a dose of 7 mg.Kg-1 as an induction agent produced comparable I-gel supraglottic airway device insertion conditions with 2.5 mg.Kg-1 propofol in comparison to thiopental at 6 mg.Kg.-1.