THE UNIVENT(TM) TUBE - AN ALTERNATIVE TO DOUBLE-LUMEN TUBES

The Univent(TM) tube was designed as an alternative to double lumen en dotracheal tubes. It is a conventional single lumen tube with an addit ional small channel within the concave anterior wall portion that hous es a movable bronchial blocker used for lung isolation. A thin lumen i n the blocker itself allows lung deflation and various ventilatory pat terns (oxygen inflow, CPAP, jet-ventilation) in the blocked lung. Main indications for the Univent(TM) tube include difficult intubation, ri sk of aspiration and planned postoperative ventilation. The ''blind'' insertion of the bronchial balloon carries a high risk of primary malp ositioning or secondary displacement that may cause a loss of the lung isolation or even tracheal obstruction. Initial insertion with fibero ptic bronchoscope is therefore required and this device must also be a vailable during the whole period of one lung ventilation. High pressur es generated by the bronchial cuff and higher cost than that of double lumen endotracheaI tubes are two other factors that limit the use of the Univent(TM) tube.