COMPARISON BETWEEN I-GEL PLUS AND PROSEAL LMA AS SUPERIOR CONDUITS FOR FIBEROPTIC INTUBATION: AN INTERVENTIONAL COHORT STUDY

Abstract

Effective airway management is a cornerstone of safe anesthesia practice, particularly in the context of difficult intubation, which occurs in approximately 1–8% of general anesthesia cases. Failure to secure the airway promptly can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. In such scenarios, supraglottic airway devices (SGADs) serve as valuable tools—not only for ventilation but also as conduits for fiberoptic-guided tracheal intubation, offering a less invasive alternative to direct laryngoscopy or surgical airway access. The ideal SGAD conduit should allow easy placement, provide a stable and centered view of the glottis, and facilitate smooth passage of a fiberoptic bronchoscope and endotracheal tube. Among the available SGADs, the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and the i-gel Plus are widely used second-generation devices, each with unique design features.