The Length of the Right Main Stem Bronchus as a Guide to Right-sided Double-lumen Tube Use

The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China.

The Length of the Right Main Stem Bronchus Measured by Computerised Tomography as a Guide to Right-sided Double-lumen Tube Use

The double lumen tube (DLT) is the most popular way to isolate the lungs for thoracic surgery. The variable anatomy of the length of the right main stem bronchus seems to be the main reason clinicians are unwilling to use the right-sided DLT (R-DLT). The factors that could compromise the adequate ventilation of the right lung are mostly the variable length of the Right Main Stem Bronchus and the misalignment of the lateral orifice of the right-sided DLT in regard to the right upper lobe bronchus (RULB). The objectives of this study were to validate an alternative method to estimate the length of the Right Main Stem Bronchus by Computerised Tomography as a Guide to Right-sided Double-lumen Tube Use

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age>70 or <18 years
2. ASA classifications >III
3. BMI >35kg/m2
4. Modified Mallampati classification ≥III
5. Thoracic surgery within the last one month
6. Severe cardiopulmonary disease