The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 55, 1584-1584, Copyright © 1993 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Balloon method for detecting inadequate double-lumen tube cuff seal
JB Brodsky and JB Mark
Department of Anesthesiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
A method for detecting air leak when using a double-lumen endobronchial
tube is described. The ventilatory circuit is directly attached to the
lumen of the ventilated lung. A balloon is fitted snugly over the open
lumen of the tube to the nonventilated lung. If lung separation is
incomplete, the balloon will inflate with each ventilation.