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Endobronchial tubes – a case for re‐evaluation
Author(s) -
Conacher I. D.,
Velasquez H.,
Morrice D. J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2006.04644.x
Subject(s) - medicine , airway , anastomosis , catheter , surgery , cardiothoracic surgery , jet ventilation , tube (container) , anesthesia , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary An endobronchial tube (Macintosh‐Leatherdale) was used to secure the airway for a tracheal resection and end‐to‐end anastomosis. This lung separation device enabled insertion of both a fibreoptic bronchoscope and a tube exchange catheter. These were required after the trachea was transected and re‐anastomosis proved surgically difficult. The airway exchange catheter allowed for jet ventilation and later a tube change when an emergency occurred. Options and management issues for tracheal surgery and lung separators are discussed. A case is made for a re‐evaluation of endobronchial tubes both as a useful conduit for modern airway instruments and as an alternative to small double‐lumen tubes for the increasing population of obese patients weighing > 100 kg, requiring thoracic surgery.