The influence of head and neck position on ventilation with the i-gel airway in paralysed, anaesthetised patients

• DOI: 10.1097/eja.0b013e32834698f4
• Publication Date: 2011-04-19T10:35:38Z
• Authors: Takuro Sanuki; Rumiko Uda; Shingo Sugioka; Erina Daigo; Hiroki Son; Masafumi Akatsuka; Junichiro Kotani
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Adolescent; Oral Surgical Procedures; Posture; Oropharynx; Anesthesia, General; Middle Aged; Respiration, Artificial; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pressure; Humans; Paralysis; Female; Airway Management; Head; Neck; Aged

We hypothesised that head and neck position could affect the effectiveness of ventilation with i-gel airway. To test this hypothesis, we investigated influence different positions on oropharyngeal sealing pressures scores during i-gel.A single, experienced supraglottic airway device user inserted in 20 paralysed, anaesthetised patients who were scheduled for oral surgery. Oropharyngeal leak measured neutral position, flexed, extended or rotated to right. Ventilation was scored from 0 3 based three criteria (no leakage an pressure 15 cmH2O, bilateral chest excursion a square wave capnogram; each item scoring 1 point).Compared (25.8 ± 5.2 cmH2O), significantly higher flexion (28.5 3.4 P=0.015) lower extension (23.0 4.2 P=0.015), but similar rotation (26.7 5.1 P=0.667). Flexion [2 (1-3)] adversely affected score compared [3 (2-3), P=0.004].Effective can be performed whom is rotated, whereas affects ventilation. Clinically, should avoided i-gel.