The effect of I-gel ™ airway on intraocular pressure in pediatric patients who received sevoflurane or desflurane during strabismus surgery.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of I-gel(TM) laryngeal mask airway on intraocular pressure (IOP) in children with strabismus undergoing balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane or desflurane.

METHODS

Forty-seven children, ASA physical status I, were scheduled for elective strabismus surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two inhalation anesthetic groups. Sevoflurane group comprised of 27 children, and desflurane group comprised of 20 children. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane or desflurane. No muscle relaxant was used. IOPs were measured before anesthesia, at 2 and 5 min after insertion of I-gel(TM) and after removal of I-gel(TM) . IOP measurements were obtained by Tonopen(®).

RESULTS

Intraocular pressure significantly decreased 2 min after insertion of I-gel(TM) in both sevoflurane and desflurane groups (P < 0.001). Measurements 5 min after I-gel(TM) insertion were also significantly lower than those of before insertion in both groups (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were found between the preoperative measurement and the measurement after removal of I-gel(TM) within two groups (P = 0.072 and P = 0.547, respectively). No significant differences were found in all IOP measurements between sevoflurane and desflurane groups.

CONCLUSION

Insertion of I-gel(TM) laryngeal mask airway with giving sevoflurane or desflurane inhalation anesthetics seemed not to cause any increase in IOPs in pediatric ophthalmic surgery.