Influence of Tracheal-bronchial Anatomy Changes on Multi-detector Computed Tomography Scan of the Chest Upon Placement of Left-Sided Double Lumen Endotracheal Tube

Plain-language summary

One-lung ventilation (OLV) is used for thoracic surgical procedures to facilitate surgical exposure. Lung isolation is performed using a double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) and optimal position is achieved with the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The most common technique used to place a left-sided DLT is the blind method technique, which consists of direct laryngoscopy and rotation of the DLT into the trachea with the aim to intubate the entrance of the left main bronchus. The DLT will be rotated counterclockwise blindly after the tip of the DLT passes the vocal cords under direct laryngoscopy. However, in some occasions, the tip of the DLT migrates into the right bronchus because the alignment between the trachea and right bronchus is more vertical. The identification of the misplacement can be challenging, which could lead to the failure of lung isolation. In order to avoid the unsuccessful lung isolation, Investigators are interested in identifying the factors that potentially influence the incorrect tube DLT placement diverting into the opposite bronchus.

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