To Compare and Evaluate the Role of I-gel, PLMA and ET Tube in Patients Undergoing Elective LSCS under GA

Background: Obstetric patients undergo many physiological and anatomical changes, making them vulnerable to difficult airway situation. To deal with difficult airway is a challenging opportunity for every anasthesiologist. Regional anasthesia is preferred choice but in many situations general anasthesia is given, to conduct an elective cesarean section. Endotracheal tube (gold standard) and SGDs are airway securing devices to provide GA. Over the years many authors studied the role of various SGDs to secure airway in elective LSCS. I-gel has been used as rescue device but not as an airway securing device in elective LSCS, therefore we conducted our study to compare and evaluate the role of I-gel, PLMA and ET tube in patients undergoing elective LSCS under GA. Material and methods: A prospective, randomized controlled study with a sample size of 90, with 30 patients in each group was conducted. A standard anasthesia protocol was followed. Patient was pre-oxygenated and underwent rapid sequence induction then depending on the group decided by random number table, appropriate size I-gel / PLMA or endotracheal tube was inserted and confirmation of successful placement was done. Primary objective of this study was to compare the time to achieve effective airway with these three devices. The secondary objectives were to compare ease of insertion, hemodynamic changes and the complications. Results: The mean time to achieve effective airway for I-gel was 13.272.17 seconds, for PLMA it was 30.453.84 seconds, and for ETT was 28.054.64 seconds. Conclusion: Time to achieve effective airway was minimum with I-gel followed by ETT and was maximum with PLMA. I-gel insertion was easier as compared to PLMA and ETT.