Lung separation and the difficult airway.
Selective collapse of a lung and one-lung ventilation (OLV) is now performed for most thoracic surgical procedures. Modern double-lumen endobronchial tubes and bronchial blockers have made lung separation safe and relatively easy to achieve. However, OLV in the patient with a 'difficult airway' can present a challenge to the anaesthesiologist. This review considers the different techniques used to achieve lung separation and their application to the patient with a difficult airway.
Brodsky
J B
JB
Department of Anesthesia, H 3580, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. jbrodsky@stanford.edu
D020680:Bronchoscopes; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures