A cohort evaluation of clinical use and performance characteristics of Ambu^® AuraGain™: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Background and Aims:Ambu® AuraGain™ (AG) (Ambu, Ballerup, Denmark) is a supraglottic device which has a design facilitating its use as a conduit for intubation. We designed this prospective observational study to assess the ease of AG placement in paralysed patients, determine its position and alignment to the glottis and assess its utility as a conduit for intubation.Methods:One hundred patients, aged 18–60 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II, undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia were included in the study. The ease and number of attempts for successful insertion, ease of gastric tube insertion, leak pressures, fibre-optic grade of view, number of attempts and time for tracheal intubation, time for AG removal and complications were recorded. The mean, standard deviation (SD), interquartile range (IQR) and range were calculated. The upper limit of confidence interval for overall failure rate was calculated using Wilson's score method.Results:AG was successfully inserted in all patients. The mean (SD) time taken for insertion was 17.32 (8.48) s. The median [IQR] leak pressures were 24 [20–28] cm of H2O. Optimal laryngeal view for intubation was obtained in 68 patients. Eighty-eight patients could be intubated in the first attempt. Five patients could not be intubated. The overall failure rate of device was 9%.Conclusion:AMBU® AuraGain™ serves as an effective ventilating aid, but caution is suggested before using it as a conduit for endotracheal intubation.

AuraGain™ versus i‐gel™ for bronchoscopic intubation under continuous oxygenation: A randomised controlled trial

“…In another study of 100 patients, optimal visualisation was obtained in 68% of the patients and 84% were successfully intubated using the AuraGain™ for FIB. 18 These findings are similar to our results. In another study, three experienced anaesthesiologists performed awake FBI through an i-gel™.…”

“…Further, only one anaesthesiologist performed airway management. In another study of 100 patients, optimal visualisation was obtained in 68% of the patients and 84% were successfully intubated using the AuraGain™ for FIB 18 . These findings are similar to our results.…”

Comparision of Ambu AuraGain™ and LMA® ProSeal in children under controlled ventilation

“…[ 6 ] Studies in the adult population using Ambu Aura gain for airway control revealed a much higher OSP. [ 7 8 9 ] The higher seal pressures in adult patients probably reflect a difference in their anatomy with the pediatric airway. However, the OSP of Ambu AuraGain™ was comparable to that of other SADs such as i-gel, LMA ProSeal, and LMA Supreme, as reported in other studies.…”

Direct and indirect low skill fibre-optic intubation: A randomised crossover manikin study of six supraglottic airway devices

“…Success rate of intubation in clinical practice may be lower than that found in a manikin study, as seen in a study by Parikh et al . [ 30 ] evaluating performance of LSFOI through AmbuAuragain in paralysed patients whose airways were not anticipated to be difficult. They found that 5 out of 100 patients could not be intubated, while our manikin study had a 100% intubation success rate with AmbuAuragain.…”