Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 1997
The effects of endobronchial cuff inflation on double-lumen endobronchial tube movement after lateral decubitus positioning.
This study was designed to measure changes in tracheal and bronchial lumen distances from mainstem and secondary carina with lateral positioning, and to assess whether inflation of the endobronchial cuff before lateral positioning would further secure a double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) and reduce movement. ⋯ DLTs move with lateral positioning, regardless of endobronchial cuff inflation. The movement is predominantly in the upward direction. Therefore, fiberoptic visualization in the supine position should be used only to confirm that the endobronchial lumen is placed on the appropriate side and the cuff is at least 1 cm inside the left mainstem bronchus. Final positioning should always be verified in the lateral position.