[Evaluation of the relation between the depth of left double-lumen endobronchial tube and the patient's height--comparison between patients over 20 years of age and those under 19 years].
BACKGROUND
In adult patients, there is a strong correlation between the appropriate depth of insertion of a left double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) and height. However, for patients with the same height, we noted the tendency of the depth of insertion being about 1 cm shorter for patients under 19 years of age compared to that for those over 20 years.


METHODS
We compared the depth of insertion between patients over 20 years and those under 19 years.


RESULTS
In both groups, the depth of DLT insertion correlated strongly with patient's height. For patients of the same height, the depth of insertion for those under 19 years was 0.7-1.2 cm shorter than that for patients over 20 years. For patients with a height between 160-179 cm, the mean depth of insertion for patients under 19 years was significantly shorter than that for those over 20 years.


CONCLUSIONS
During intubation of the bronchi with DLT in patients under 19 years, the optimal depth of DLT insertion is less than that for patients over 20 years.
Department of Anesthesiology, National Hospital Organization Hyogo-Chuo National Hospital, Sanda 669-1592.
Eriko
E
Sato
Masahiko
M
Takata
Yoshifumi
Y
Miyamoto
Shotaro
S
Hashimoto
Junichi
J
Sato
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult