New Technique to Assess Correct Positioning of the Right-sided Double Lumen Tube

Right-sided double lumen tube (Mallinckrodt - Endobronchial tube) is introduced into the glottis via direct laryngoscopy. After the endotracheal lumen tube has passed the vocal cords, the stylet is removed, and the tube is rotated 90° toward the right and advanced slightly until resistance is encountered. Auscultation is then performed to check the proper side the endobronchial tube was inserted to.

Then, the anatomy of the carina and the origins of the right and left upper bronchus are identified with the video-bronchoscopy.

After a mild plication of the distal extremity of an adult central venous catheter wire guide (0.53mm diameter, 45cm length, one straight soft tip on one end and one "J" tip on other), the J-shaped extremity of this guide is introduced through the endobronchial lumen under direct video-bronchoscope. The wire guide is then slowly removed in order that proper alignment between the wire extremity and the right upper lobe occurs. The wire is removed again until its J-shaped extremity appears through the right-upper lobe ventilation orifice. In order to align the orifice of the tube with the upper lobe bronchus, a rotational movement of the double-lumen tube may be necessary. When the location of the orifice of the right upper lobe is identified, the guide is moved forward through the orifice into the upper lobe bronchus.

Once satisfactory initial placement is achieved, the bronchial cuff is left inflated, the wire guide of the central venous catheter is kept in place in the upper lobe bronchus, and the patient is turned to the right lateral decubitus position. The proper positioning of the tube is once again checked by another video-bronchoscopy.

To confirm the exact placement of the tube, a fiberoptic bronchoscopy is performed through the endobronchial lumen to find the right upper lobe ventilation orifice and confirm alignment. Then, it is placed distally to the endobronchial lumen to confirm a clear view showing the bronchus intermedius.

After passing the fiberoptic bronchoscope through the tracheal lumen, the blue bronchial cuff is visualized at the origin of the right main stem bronchus below the level of the carina.

Inclusion criteria

• all patients > 18 years old who have to undergo a left thoracic surgery with a one lung ventilation technique

Exclusion criteria

• emergency surgical procedures, patients with predictable difficulties of insertion of a double-lumen endotracheal tube, hemodynamically unstable patients