A Study about the Bronchial Cuff Volume of the Left-sided Double-Lumen Endobronehial Tube

Yang, Mi Kyung; Cho, Yong Sang; Kim, Gaab Soo; Kim, Chung Su; Lee, Byung Dal; Shin, Baek Hyo

Abstract

"Background: In using the Double-lumen tube (DLT), knowing the minimum bronchial cuff volume (MCV) for an effective air-tight seal will be useful; to provide a collapse of the lung; and to avoid pressure damage. The aims of the present study are thus three-fold: to measure the MCV; to measure the diameter of left main bronchus (LMBD); and to prove any relationships between two parameters.
METHODS
One hundred men and forty women who needed intubation of left-sided DLT were enrolled in this study. 37 Fr DLTs were used in male patients, and 35 Fr DLTs were used in female patients. We evaluated the MCV by air bubble method and measured the LMBD in chest PA. We also evaluated the pressure/volume characteristics of the bronchial cuffs by control inflator.
RESULTS
29 patients of 100 patients (29%) exhibited persistent air leakage in 2.5 ml cuff volume in male patients (group of MCV >2.5). On the contrary, 18 patients of 40 patients (45%) did not require any cuff volume in female patients (group of MCV 0). The mean LMBD were 13.23 1.45 mm in male and 11.09 0.96 mm in female. There were significant positive correlations between MCV and LMBD in both sex and their respective correlation coefficients were 0.264 (P=0.008) in male and 0.484 (P=0.002) in female. The equations of linear regression were: LMBD = 12.394 0.429xMCV in male, LMBD = 10.725 0.438xMCV in female.
CONCLUSIONS
The MCV of the brochial cuffs in left-sided DLTs has significant relationships with the LMBD measured in chest PA.