title: Randomized clinical trial comparing double-lumen tube and EZ-Blocker for single-lung ventilation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In several clinical situations, lung separation and single-lung ventilation (SLV) is essential. In these cases, the double-lumen tube (DLT) is the most widely used device. Bronchial blocker such as Univent or Arndt Blocker serves as an alternative. The EZ-Blocker(®) (EZ; AnaesthetIQ B.V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands) is a new device promising to exceed clinical performance of DLT. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical performance of EZ in comparison with conventional left-sided DLT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery requiring thoracotomy and SLV were included in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: EZ (combined with conventional 7.5 or 8.5 mm single-lumen tube) or DLT (37 or 39 Fr left-sided DLT). Time for intubation procedure and time to verification of the correct position of EZ or DLT using fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) were recorded. After surgery, a thoracic surgeon rated the quality of collapse of the lung (1-3 on a three-level scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time for intubation using DLT 85.5 (54.8) s was significantly faster (P<0.001) than using EZ 192 (89.7) s, whereas time for bronchoscopy was not significantly different (P=0.556). Conditions of surgery were rated equally [DLT 1.3 (0.6) vs EZ 1.4 (0.6), P=0.681].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although time for intubation was longer with the EZ, the device proved to be an efficient and easy-to-use device. The EZ is a valuable alternative device to conventional DLT. Verification of the correct position of the EZ by FOB seems to be obligatory. This study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT01171560).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. kurt.ruetzler@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruetzler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grubhofer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nabecker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hutschala
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hager
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000209:etiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult