A stepwise lung recruitment maneuver using I-gel can improve respiratory parameters: A prospective observational study.

I-gel has been used in various clinical situations. The study investigated alterations in respiratory parameters following a stepwise lung recruitment maneuver (LRM) using the i-gel. The research involved 60 patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists class I-II, aged 30 to 75 years, undergoing elective urologic surgery. Various respiratory parameters, including lung compliance, airway resistance, leak volume, airway pressure, and oxygen reserve index, were recorded at different time points: before LRM, immediately after LRM, and at 5, 15, and 30 minutes after LRM, as well as at the end of the surgery. The primary outcome was to assess an improvement in lung compliance. Dynamic lung compliance (mean ± SD) was significantly increased from 49.2 ± 1.8 to 70.15 ± 3.2 mL/cmH2O (P < .05) after LRM. Static lung compliance (mean ± SD) was increased considerably from 52.4 ± 1.7 to 65.0 ± 2.5 mL/cmH2O (P < .05) after the LRM. Both parameters maintained a statistically significant increased status for a certain period compared to baseline despite a decreased degree of increment. Airway resistance (mean ± SD) was significantly reduced after the LRM from 12.05 ± 0.56 to 10.41 ± 0.64 L/cmH2O/s (P < .05). Stepwise LRM using i-gel may improve lung compliance and airway resistance. Repeated procedures could lead to prolonged improvements in respiratory parameters.