Difficult ventilation with a double-lumen endotracheal tube: an unusual manufacturing defect.
We report an unexpected difficult ventilation with a double-lumen endotracheal tube in a patient receiving left upper lobe lung mass resection. The manufacturing defect in both limbs of the Opti-Port Right Angle Double Swivel Connector of the double-lumen tube resulted in this problem. This defect is difficult to localize by the usual recommended methods. We discuss a modified algorithm for difficult ventilation with a double-lumen endotracheal tube.


CONCLUSIONS
Difficult ventilation occurred during general anesthesia as the result of a manufacturing defect in both limbs of the connector of the double-lumen endotracheal tube. The problem was resolved with a careful approach, and there were no serious consequences.
Chen
Hung-Shu
HS
Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Jawan
Bruno
B
Tseng
Chia-Chih
CC
Cheng
Kwok-Wai
KW
Wang
Chih-Hsien
CH
D000403:Airway Resistance; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration