v-gel® - what professionals and owners are saying …
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I am writing this paper as a testimonial to my work with V-gel advanced veterinary airway management
system. This supraglottic airway device outperforms the traditional endo-tracheal tube in every aspect of
intubation.
You do not need a laryngeal scope
You do not need a light
The ease of insertion is dramatically easy
You do not go through the arytenoid cartilages
You do not go in to the trachea
You do not inflate a balloon inside the trachea
You do not have to deflate a balloon in order to take it out of the trachea
There is no irritation to the trachea or the arytenoid cartilages, the larynx or the epiglottis. The V-gel is
smooth and soft and atraumatic to the airway and all of its component structures. Since my graduation
from Kansas State University in 1969 I have performed over 100,000 surgical procedures on cats and
dogs using traditional endotracheal tubes. Since the late Spring of 2012 I have used the V-gel on 50
feline surgical procedures.
The ease, safety and confidence of using the V-gels has been dramatic in my experience.
My conclusion is that in a short period of time the V-gel device will be the standard of care for airway
protection and competence when it comes to feline surgery.
Dr Geoffrey Broderick, Dr of Veterinary Medicine, Huntington, USA. Cornucopia Pet Foods, USA.
The American Veterinary Medical Association “Presidents Award”, San Diego, California, 2012
We love them! I think we are ready to buy more cat tubes. Who is your US distributor?
Lois Wetmore, DVM
Tufts University, Boston, USA
We’ve used the v-gels, especially for short procedures in cats. Because of the trauma usually related to
intubation, we generally get a better overall quality of anaesthesia and overall ease on the airway with v-gels
compared to when we intubate. I see potential advantages for radiation patients who are intubated multiple
times over the course of a few weeks as this device has been relatively atraumatic as far as the airway goes.
Cats have tolerated the v-gel extremely well. I have seen definite advantages to it, especially in these types of
scenarios.
Jeff Wilson, Anaesthesiologist
Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, Boston, USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpWCBfBauWA
A large percentage of our practice is rabbits. We do a lot of anaesthetic procedures on the bunnies and we find
that we have some trouble with anaesthesia and intubation, especially on the smaller dwarf species. We’ve
been introduced to the v-gel and have been using it for two months and so far experience has been good for the
product.
Heidi Hoffer, DVM
Long Island, New York, USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCKBoI65ImA
Ivonne Finiscio
Owner, Orlando, Florida
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ho3ACDu97Y
Oakland Hospital Vet
Rochester, Michigan
http://youtu.be/ug7Ki2WGgDk
v-gel may well be the single largest step to decreasing mortality in rabbits and sign the end of the age
where rabbits are anaesthetised without secured airway!
Peter Kronen, CEO at Veterinary Anaesthesia Services, Switzerland. Director and founder, VASTA
(Veterinary Anaesthesia School for Technicians and Nurses), Head of Experimental Anaesthesia and
Anaesthesia, CABMM
I have been using the VGELs in rabbits for over two years during the development of this product. Over
two thirds of rabbits are not intubated during anaesthesia in practice. The VGEL provides a unique option
for veterinarians to secure an airway, without the practical demands of endotracheal intubation, nor the
risks of tracheal and glottal trauma. It is the first product in what promises to be a whole array of
supraglottic airway devices for veterinary use.
Kevin Eatwell
BVSc (hons) DZooMed (Reptilian) Dip ECZM (Herp) MRCVS Lecturer in Exotic Animal and Wildlife
Medicine Exotic Animal and Wildlife Service Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, UK.
www.dickvetexotics.com www.rabbitclinic.com
I rave about the cat v-gels! They are so easy to use, quick to place, greater internal diameter than e-t
tubes, less leakage than around non- cuffed tubes, and safer than cuffed e-t tubes . One of my nurses
asked if she could have a go, she placed it correctly in seconds and couldn't believe how straightforward
it was.
Paula Bailey
Vet Animal House, Warwick, UK
The performance of the v-gel Cat is very good - I still think the best thing about the v-gel supraglottic
airway devices is that you need no deep level of anaesthesia to "secure" your airway. This cat today has
a PCV of 9% and needed bone marrow biopsie - just perfect for the v-gel....
I tried a cat today with a tumor in the trachea where they did a bronchoscopy to take a biopsy of the
tumor (it was HUGE!!) - did video but need to download it.... - I missed that the cat had 5.8 kg and I took a
C5 - should possibly had taken a C6. but it was very cooooolll! they were able to do the bronchoscopy for
30 mins without the cat desaturating and easy access through the larynx....
Dr Martina Mosing, Dip ECVAA
Division of Anaesthesiology, Equine Department Vetsuisse-Faculty University of Zürich Winterthurerstr.
260
8057 Zurich, Switzerland
With the all new V-Gel we have the opportunity of a free airway in cats, without the disadvantages of
intubation.
The V-Gel might contribute in reducing anaesthetic mortality in cats during short procedures where
anaesthesia is required, being a simple and cost effective tool to gain airway control.
Robert Sap, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Using the v-gels in rabbits has improved the quality of my rabbit anaesthesia. I am always striving for
improvements to veterinary care of rabbits and I think the v-gel is a huge step forwards. The reduced
resistance to airflow when compared with a small e-t tube is so significant.
Paula Bailey MRCVS,
Vet Animal House, Warwick, UK
Pilvi Lassila
DVM, Finland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWSWviIcuMI
The v-gel brings rabbit anesthesia to the next level. After some practice, open airway access in rabbits is
now available to everyone. We have great expectations that with the introduction of this supraglottic
airway device anesthesia-related mortality and morbidity will decrease.
Nico Schoemaker, DVM, PhD, Dip ECZM (small mammal & avian), Dipl. ABVP-avian & Yvonne van
Zeeland, DVM, MVR, resident ECZM (avian); Division of Zoological Medicine; Utrecht University, The
Netherlands
I have been using v-gels to maintain anaesthesia in companion animals since 2009. Using the v-gels has
completely changed my approach to airway management and I enjoy showing new users the quality of
recovery that can be achieved using the v-gel system, as opposed to endotracheal intubation. It is good
to have the opportunity to maintain an airway without the risk of traumatizing the larynx or trachea, and to
have a design that is easy to clean and autoclave just makes things even better. I now use v-gels for the
majority of my anaesthetics and I would not go back to using endotracheal tubes.
Ivan Crotaz BVetMed MRCVS
General practitioner and rabbit first and second opinion practitioner, UK.
v-gel® is going to revolutionise rabbits’ anaesthesia. Not every practice has an endoscope to intubate
rabbit, and blind intubation is not always easy, so most of the time, gas anaesthesia is realised with a
mask. V-gel is quick and easy to place and it provides the security of an animal intubated. It could be
used during anaesthesia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation as well. There are no more excuses today to
use face masks any more, which will significantly decrease anaesthesia risks for rabbits.
Charly Pignon, DVM
Head of the Exotics Medicine Service
Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, France
I`m working in a Feline Hospital in Madrid, and since I know the V-gel tubes, five months ago, always I
use them.
I think they are very easy to install, very secure with the airway because they don`t come in contact with
the trachea and allow me to do all kinds of surgeries, abdominal, thoracic ...
The V-gel tubes avoid the risks of tracheal intubation in cats and they are a very safe tool for the practice
of surgery in the feline species.
I work with animal welfare groups and I have to do many surgeries a day. Before, in my anaesthetic
protocols, I did not put tubes in the trachea to animals, but with the V-gel tubes,I intubate all and that
increases the surgery security .
Juanjo Vega DVM, GPCert SAS (EVPS).
Hospital Felino Ventas. Madrid,Spain
v-gel insertion is simple and can be done in a few seconds. Endotracheal intubation in small cats can be difficult
but it becomes very easy with v-gel. Cats show less cough than cats intubated with endotracheal tube. My
experience regarding use of v-gel is very positive. v-gel is a excellent alternative to endotracheal intubation in
small animals.
Nicola Iannelli DVM, PhD, Professor of Veterinary Surgery
University of Messini, Italy
We have now started using them and they are absolutely fantastic! Much easier to place than I thought
they would be and infinitely easier than ET tubing. As a result we are using more so safer GA’s. We have
also mechanically ventilated via Vgel- again good results
John Chitty BVetMed CertZooMed CBiol MSB MRCVS,
Anton Vets, UK
I purchased v-gels at 2012 London Vet Show, so was among the first practices to use them. Put simply,
they are very easy and quick to insert, and far less traumatic than et tubes. We have had no problems at
all, and would not be without them.
David Paterson, DVM
Bruce View Vet Clinic, UK
As I stated in London , v-gels for rabbit anaesthesia is the product that has reduced my stress levels by
the greatest amount within the operating theatre , thanks for a great product . On another note the D grip I
ordered from you on the Thurs was delivered in less than 24 hours and in use IMPRESSIVE !
Allan Dick, DVM
The Croft Veterinary Centre, UK
d-grip
When I started working with Docsinnovent, I was expecting the anaesthetic improvements from the v-gel
to be the whole story. Using the d-grip has suddenly made the normal precarious tower of sandbags
unnecessary, as this alone will support my anaesthetic circuit and monitoring cables. It is now quick and
easy to set up and support my circuits, and the whole system is clean and neat. The spray and sachet vlube products now make it simple to lubricate any devices without any risk of cross infection. They are
easy to use and come in the perfect sizes to allow easy preparation of any airway devices.
Ivan Crotaz BVetMed MRCVS
General practitioner and rabbit first and second opinion practitioner, UK
NURSES
Since using the rabbit v-gel over the last few months I cannot believe the difference it has made to the
standard of rabbit anaesthesia. After years of struggling to convince vets of the benefits of intubating
rabbits (and failing due to the length of time it can add to a GA until you become really proficient at it) it is
so refreshing to see how easy the procedure is with these tubes. I regularly intubate within seconds
single handed and am still finding it hard to believe I have done it correctly – it’s that easy! I personally
believe there is no excuse at all for not intubating rabbit GAs now this product is on the market.
Jenny Thompson DipAVN(surg) RVN D32/33 MBVNA
Head Nurse – Companion Care Sheffield, UK
Using the v-gels has made the process of securing a patent airway quicker and easier than using ET
tubes. In addition using the rabbit v-gels means that you can properly asses their respiratory function and
provide IPPV should it be needed (such as when they are breath holding) allowing them to reach surgical
plane of anaesthesia sooner, thus reducing the time spent under anaesthetic for the patient
Louisa Slade RVN,
Kynoch Vets, Bracknell, Berkshire. UK
We have been using the v-gel system with capnography for a couple of weeks now. This has been a
mixture of both cats and rabbits.
They are very easy to use and the fact they are atraumatic for the airways is a great selling point.
Immediately post operatively they have seemed much calmer. When placing the v-gels it is easier than
standard ET tubes and they feel secure when tied in place.
A major advantage is that they can be autoclaved in practice which gives extra piece of mind that there
are no cross contamination issues.
Sophie Bedford RVN MBVNA
Vets4Pets, Newbury, UK
I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse working at Kynoch Vets in Harmans Water, Bracknell. I have been
involved in the research and development of the v-gel anaesthesic project for 3 years since I was a
Student Veterinary Nurse.
I have found the device very easy to insert, even in my capacity as a student, and have had occasion to
use it in an emergency with both rabbits and cats.
In rabbit emergencies I found myself limited to what I could personally do other than masking, as I did not
have the expertise or experience to intubate with a standard ET tube. With the V-Gel I was surprised at
just how simple placing the tube was and having the facility to IPPV rabbits in emergency situations is
invaluable.
Placing the cat V-gel was a little trickier, but after one or two attempts I found myself able to confidently
place the device without incident. I also found the recovery of the cat from anaesthesia much less
traumatic, with no coughing, laryngeal trauma or spasm and found that many were more willing to eat
post recovery than previously noted with the standard ET tube.
Working with the V-Gel and capnography I feel that we can provide a gold standard of anaesthetic
monitoring for our patients and are more prepared especially with rabbits for anaesthetic emergencies
that may arise during surgery.
Stephanie Pickup, RVN, Kynoch Vets, Harmans Water, Bracknell, UK
The v-gel offers a quick, technically simple alternative to intubation in the rabbit. It is important to follow the
easily available training information on placement and maintenance, and to use in conjunction with
capnography, to ensure correct placement is maintained. Whilst in some cases intubation will continue to be the
preferred technique (where more secure airway control is required, and a tube placed WITHIN the trachea is
neccessary). However, supraglottic airway devices are generally faster to place, with reduced risk of laryngeal
trauma. They also provide advantages for both the patient and veterinary personnel, in terms of safer
anaesthesia and reduced environmental contamination. I have found them a very useful addition to rabbit
anaesthesia in practice.
Richard Saunders,
bsc (hons) bvsc cbiol msb mrcvs certzoomed dzoomed (mammalian)
Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, UK
I was very interested and impressed with v-gel. I am always interested in developments that would improve the
safety of anaesthetics. I would be very happy to pay the increased cost incurred by using v-gel. It is a small
price to pay for an increase in their survival of operations.
Kath Wilson
Rabbit owner, Aylesbury, UK
Michel Cosimano
Hopital Veterinaire de l’est, Quebec, Canada
http://youtu.be/UPSMqBYwZf0
UK Vet
NAVC 2014
http://youtu.be/1ae61__zMVI