Purpose of review: One-lung ventilation in the thoracic surgical patient can be achieved with the use of a double-lumen endotracheal tube or an independent bronchial blocker. A number of patients requiring lung isolation have a potentially difficult airway because of previous radiation to the neck or previous surgery to the tongue and larynx. This review will focus on the management of patients who have a difficult airway and require lung isolation.
Recent findings: Identification of the potentially difficult airway during the preoperative evaluation allows the preplanning and selection of the appropriate lung isolation device. Common devices used to achieve one-lung ventilation in patients with difficult airways include independent bronchial blockers (Arndt, Cohen, and Fuji Uniblocker).
Summary: In patients who require one-lung ventilation and who present with a difficult airway, the safest way to establish an airway is by placing a single-lumen endotracheal tube orally or nasotracheally while the patient is awake with the aid of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. Lung isolation in these patients then is achieved by using an independent bronchial blocker; an alternative technique is to use a double-lumen endotracheal tube while using an airway catheter exchange technique. For the patient with a tracheostomy in place, an independent bronchial blocker is recommended.