What are the factors associated with successful I-gel™ insertion and uneventful anaesthesia in children under age two?

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to evaluate I-gel™ sizes 1 and 1.5.

METHODS: I-gel™ insertion was attempted in 60 children<2 years of age undergoing short elective surgery. The main endpoints were the determination of independent factors associated with successful first attempt insertion and those associated with uneventful anaesthesia (i.e. no adverse events during insertion or during the intraoperative period of removal).

RESULTS: Size 1 and size 1.5 I-gel™ devices were used (intraoperatively) in 33 and 27 cases, respectively. Median age and weight were 3 (1-12) months and 4.97 (4.00-9.00) kg. Ventilation modes were spontaneous breathing (8.3%), pressure support (45%), controlled pressure (15%) or volume (31.7%) ventilation. I-gel™ insertion was successful on the first attempt in 45 cases (75%). A time between induction and insertion>11min (OR: 4.85 [1.08-21.77]) and age<6 months (OR: 5.501 [1.20-16.8]) were identified as the independent factors of successful first attempt insertion (AUC: 0.715). Adverse events were reported in 35 (58.3%) cases, during insertion in 18 (30%) cases, during the intraoperative period in 25 (41.7%) cases and/or during recovery in 3 (5.08%) cases. Age<6 months (OR: 4.497 [1.197-16.89]) and I-gel™ removal in the operating room (OR: 6.034 [1.153-31.577]) were identified as independent factors associated with uneventful anaesthesia (AUC: 0.761).

CONCLUSION: I-gel™ sizes 1 and 1.5 were interesting alternatives to intubation with all ventilation modes. However, the high incidence of adverse events calls for careful monitoring. The superiority of removal under anaesthesia must be confirmed.