Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Supraglottic airway devices are very popular in lieu of tracheal intubation for patients who are under general anaesthesia. Of all these devices, oropharyngeal leak pressure is a useful variable in determining proper positioning, functions and comparison between devices. The I-gel device is used widely thanks to its structure and effectiveness; still, the effects of changes in the head and neck position on this device are studied insufficiently.
Objective: To assess the impact of fixed head and neck rotation on oropharyngeal leak pressure and examine the safety of the I-gel in the lateral head position.
Method: This prospective single group comparative study was carried out in Baghdad Teaching Hospital from the 1st of October to the 1st of June 2022. The patients selected for the study were sixty patients posted for elective surgeries under general anesthesia. Collectively, standardized anesthesia was started with the patient in supine position and the I-gel device was placed in neutral position. Subsequently, only the head was turned in the lateral position for the same parameters including peak airway pressure, leak airway pressure, ETCO2, ventilation scores and fiberoptic views.
Results: Out of 60 patients, 77 percent of the respondent was males, 33.3 percent of the patients was below 30 years old. Leak airway pressure, peak airway pressure and ETCO2 did not show any difference when patient position was changed from neutral to lateral in our study; thus, P= 0.594, P-0.117, and P=0.064 respectively. Likewise there was no significant difference in the ventilation scores and fiberoptic views between the two positions.
Conclusion: This study examines the head and neck rotation from the neutral to lateral position and has shown no compromise on the performance or safety of the I-gel device. The insignificant interconditions changes of measured parameters: leak airway pressure, peak airway pressure, ETCO2, ventilation scores, and fiberoptic views indicate that the I-gel device is dependable during head rotation.