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A prospective analysis of placement of left-sided plastic double-lumen tubes in 100 patients is presented. Intubation of the left bronchus was successfully accomplished using only auscultation and clinical signs ("blind" placement) in 91 patients. Double-lumen tubes were positioned in less than five minutes in 84 patients. The most common problem encountered (30%) was initial intubation of the right main bronchus. Seven of these patients required bronchoscopic assistance to guide the tube into the left bronchus. There were four minor intraoperative complications due to DLT malposition that were recognized and corrected by withdrawing the tube slightly back in the bronchus. The plastic double-lumen tubes functioned properly during the procedure in all 100 patients.

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.