MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 80 adult patients who were scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomised to two groups: Group BM: Baska mask (n = 40) and Group IG: i-gel (n = 40). The assessment focused on ease of insertion, number of attempts, insertion time, number of corrective manoeuvres, oropharyngeal leak pressure, tidal volume, peak airway pressure (PAP) and post-insertion complications.
RESULTS: Group IG showed a significantly shorter median insertion time (13.3 [interquartile range, IQR 7.8] vs. 17.0 [IQR 9.6] s; P < 0.001), a higher percentage in the 'very easy' ease of insertion category (62.5% vs. 10.0%; P < 0.001), a higher percentage in the no corrective manoeuvre category (92.5% vs. 72.5%; P = 0.003) and a higher percentage in the no post-operative throat pain category (67.5% vs. 32.5%; P = 0.011) than Group BM. However, Group BM showed a significantly higher generated PAP than Group IG (12.7 [1.8] and 11.5 [2.2] cm H2O, respectively; P = 0.010). There were no significant differences in other parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: The i-gel was better than the Baska mask in terms of ease of insertion, speed of insertion, fewer corrective manoeuvres and less post-operative throat pain. However, the Baska mask had a better cuff seal, as shown by a higher generated PAP.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 66 adult patients underwent elective surgery under general anaes-thesia, and they were randomized to two groups: the Air-Q (AQ) group (n = 33) and the Ambu AuraGain (AA) group (n = 33). A simulated cervical spine injury was created using a cervical collar, which was applied after the induction of general anaesthesia. Ease of insertion, time taken for successful insertion, time taken for successful FO guided endotracheal intubation, oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP), Brimacombe score for FO laryngeal view, post-intubation complications and haemodynamic changes were recorded for both groups.
RESULTS: The OLP was significantly higher in the AA group than in the AQ group (34.9 ± 6.4 vs. 28.6 ± 7.8 cm H 2 O; P = 0.001). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in the ease of insertion, time taken for successful insertion, time taken for successful FO guided endotracheal intubation, Brimacombe score for FO laryngeal view, haemodynamic parameters or complication rate between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Air-Q was comparably effective as Ambu AuraGain as a conduit for FO endotracheal intubation in patients with a simulated cervical spine injury; however, Ambu AuraGain has a better seal with significant OLP.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a randomised, double-blinded control trial which randomised samples to moderate NMB (train-of-four count [TOF] of 1 or 2) or deep NMB (post-tetanic count [PTC] of 1 or 2). Surgery began with IAP 8 mmHg but was allowed to increase the pressure if the surgical condition was unfavourable. The surgical condition was rated on a 4-point scale. Post-operative abdominal pain and shoulder tip pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale for pain, with 0 defined as no pain and 10 severe pain at recovery area (time 0), 30 minutes, and 24 hours post-operation.
RESULTS: Seventy patients completed the study. The rate of increasing IAP between the 2 groups ( P = 0.172) is not significant, but deep NMB requires less pressure - mean highest IAP of 10.31 (± 1.39) mmHg, moderate NMB 11.54 (± 1.69) mmHg. The mean surgical space condition score was significantly better in the deep NMB group at 2.4 (± 0.7) compared to moderate NMB at 3.2 (± 0.66), P < 0.005. There was a significantly lower post-operative abdominal pain score in deep NMB but no significant difference in shoulder tip pain score between the 2 groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Deep NMB enables the usage of lower IAP in laparoscopic surgery without interfering with surgical space condition, and it reduces the post-operative abdominal pain score in 24 hours compared to moderate NMB.