Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) requires one-lung v
entilation with a properly collapsed lung. This study compared the Broncho-
Cath double-lumen endotracheal tube with the Wiruthan bronchial blocker to
determine the advantages of one device over the other during anaesthesia wi
th one-lung ventilation for thoracoscopy.
Methods: Thirty-five patients undergoing VATS were randomly assigned to one
of two groups. Sixteen patients received a left-sided double-lumen tube (D
LT) and nineteen a Wiruthan bronchial blocker (BB). The BE group was subdiv
ided in two: BE in the right mainstem bronchus (BBR) for right-sided VATS (
9 patients), BE in the left mainstem bronchus (BBL) for left-sided VATS (10
patients). The position of the devices was checked using a fibreoptic bron
choscope. The following variables were measured: 1) number of unsuccessful
placement attempts; 2) number of malpositions of the devices; 3) time requi
red to place the device in the correct position; 4) number of secondary dis
lodgements of the devices after turning the patient into the lateral decubi
tus position. The quality of lung deflation was evaluated by the surgeons w
ho were blinded to the type of tube being used.
Results: The number of unsuccessful placement attempts was one in the DLT g
roup (1/16), three in the BBL group (3/10) and none in the BBR group (0/9).
The number of malpositions was significantly greater in the BBL group (10/
10) compared to the DLT group (2/16) and to the BBR group (1/9) (P<0.001).
The time (mean+/-SD) required to place a BBL was 4.21 min+/-1.28, significa
ntly longer than the time required to place a DLT (2.26 min+/-0.55, P<0.000
6) or a BBR (2.41 min+/-0.53, P<0.008). The difference in placement time be
tween DLT and BBR was not significant. The number of secondary dislodgement
s was one in the DLT group, one in the BBR group and none in the BBL group
(NS). The quality of lung deflation was judged excellent or fair in all pat
ients in the DLT and the BBL groups and poor in 44% of the patients in the
BBR group.
Conclusion: It took significantly longer to place a left BE than a DLT (P<0
.0006) or a right BE (P<0.008). The number of initial malpositionings of th
e left BE was significantly greater than in the other groups (P<0.001). The
quality of lung deflation was better in the BBL and in the DLT groups than
in the BBR group. We conclude that for routine use during left-sided VATS,
the use of a DLT is preferable to a left BE because of its greater ease of
placement. For right-sided VATS, DLT and right BE showed the same facility
of placement but the DLT provided a better quality of lung deflation.