A Comparison between the i-gel® and air-Q® Supraglottic Airway Devices Used for the Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia with Muscle Relaxation

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare two supraglottic airway (SGA) devices (i.e., the i-gel® © Intersurgical Ltd and air-Q® (Reusable) Cookgas company) in terms of the insertion time, amount of leak during ventilation with maximum positive pressure, and postoperative complications in patients referring to Modarres Hospital in Tehran. METHOD: The present double-blind clinical trial was performed on 60 patients undergoing elective surgeries that required general anesthesia with muscle relaxation. Patients were randomly assigned to either i-gel® (n = 30) or Air-Q® (n = 30) groups. RESULTS: The mean age, body mass index, duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, and gender ratio were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean ± SD values of the SGA devices' insertion time (in seconds) in the air-Q® and i-gel® groups were 4.87 ± 1.6 and 6.80 ± 1.2, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean OLP in the Air-Q® group was significantly higher than that of the i-gel® group (35.9 ± 9.6 versus 24.8 ± 3.7, p < 0.001). The frequency of complications occurred after the supraglottic airway insertion was higher in the i-gel® group. However, only in terms of sore throat, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant: 6 (20%) had sore throat (P = 0.024) in the i-gel groups, but in in the Air-Q® groups no one had this side effect after surgery. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the Air-Q® supraglottic airway was placed faster and easier with fewer complications than the i-gel in general anesthesia with muscle relaxation. The frequency of the occurrence of all three complications, cough, sore throat, and blood, on the cuff (6 (20%) was higher in the i-gel group than that in the air-Q® group (cough3 (10%), sore throat 0 (0%), and blood on the cuff 3 (10%) (P < 0.05).