T. Sakuragi et al., RUPTURE OF THE LEFT MAIN-STEM BRONCHUS BY THE TRACHEAL PORTION OF A DOUBLE-LUMEN ENDOBRONCHIAL TUBE, Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 41(9), 1997, pp. 1218-1220
We report a rupture of the left main-stem bronchus following the inser
tion of a left-sided double-lumen endobronchial tube in a 76-yr-old wo
man with a short trachea. A fiberoptic bronchoscope was not used durin
g the initial insertion of the tube and the depth of insertion resulte
d in approximately 5 cm in excess of the optimal level for this patien
t. The rupture had been caused by the tracheal portion of the double-l
umen tube. This damage may have been avoided if a fiberoptic bronchosc
ope was used routinely as an introducer and for positioning of the end
obronchial tube under direct vision.