Airway devices: i-gel: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Anaesthesia · Airway devices: i-gel

Sample item

Which statement describes the i-gel supraglottic airway?

AIt has a non-inflatable gel-like cuff and a gastric drain channelBIt is a tracheal tubeCIt has an inflatable cuff with a pilot balloonDIt requires a laryngoscope for insertion

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. It has a non-inflatable gel-like cuff and a gastric drain channel

The i-gel is made of a soft thermoplastic elastomer that moulds to the perilaryngeal anatomy without cuff inflation. It has a built-in bite block and a gastric channel and is quick to insert, so it is useful for resuscitation and as a conduit for fibreoptic intubation. It does not fully protect against aspiration.

Option by option

A. It has a non-inflatable gel-like cuff and a gastric drain channel (correct)
Correct. The non-inflatable gel cuff and gastric channel are its defining features.
B. It is a tracheal tube
It is a supraglottic device and not a tracheal tube.
C. It has an inflatable cuff with a pilot balloon
The classic LMA has an inflatable cuff and pilot balloon.
D. It requires a laryngoscope for insertion
It is inserted blindly without a laryngoscope.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, It has a non-inflatable gel-like cuff and a gastric drain channel. The i-gel is made of a soft thermoplastic elastomer that moulds to the perilaryngeal anatomy without cuff inflation.

Why is "It is a tracheal tube" not the answer?

It is a supraglottic device and not a tracheal tube.

Why is "It has an inflatable cuff with a pilot balloon" not the answer?

The classic LMA has an inflatable cuff and pilot balloon.

Why is "It requires a laryngoscope for insertion" not the answer?

It is inserted blindly without a laryngoscope.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway devices: i-gel in Anaesthesia. It has a built-in bite block and a gastric channel and is quick to insert, so it is useful for resuscitation and as a conduit for fibreoptic intubation. It does not fully protect against aspiration.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Airway devices: i-gel?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.