Cross-Over Assessment of the AmbuAuraGain, LMA Supreme New Cuff and Intersurgical I-Gel in Fresh Cadavers

Ana M. Lopez¹, Xavier Sala-Blanch², Ricard Valero³, Alberto Prats⁴

¹Department of Anaesthesiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
²Orthopaedic Anaesthesia Section, Department of Anaesthesiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
³Neuroanaesthesia Section, Department of Anaesthesiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
⁴Laboratory of Surgical Neuroanantomy (LSNA), Human Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

DOI: 10.4236/ojanes.2014.412047                

Abstract

Background: The AmbuAuraGain is a new single-use supraglottic airway device with gastric channel designed to facilitate intubation. The aim of the study was to assess the anatomic position and the performance of the AuraGain in fresh cadavers compared to that of the Intersurgical i-gel and LMA Supreme New Cuff. Methods: The 3 devices were inserted in random order in 7 fresh cadavers without difficult airway criteria. The assessed items were: Insertion time, number of attempts and ease of insertion, airway seal pressure, ease of gastric tube insertion, endoscopic view of vocal cords, efficacy of guided tracheal intubation through the AuraGain and i-gel, and anatomic fit by lateral X-ray and neck dissections. Results: All devices were successfully inserted within 3 attempts, except for one case of the LMA Supreme. Adjusting manoeuvres were often required to accomplish correct insertion. A 16 G gastric tube was easily advanced through all AuraGain and LMA Supreme devices. Fiberoptic tracheal intubation was effectively achieved through all AuraGain and i-gel devices in less than 60 s. Lateral X-ray and neck dissections confirmed optimal alignment of all devices with the respiratory and digestive tracts. Conclusions: Insertion of the new AmbuAuraGain required adjusting manoeuvres in some cases, as observed with the other two devices, and achieved similar airway seal pressures. Passage of a large bore gastric tube was as fast as with the LMA Supreme and ease of guided intubation was similar to that of the i-gel.

Keywords

Supraglottic Airway Device, Cadaver Study, Fibreoptic Intubation

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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