Is flexible bronchoscopy necessary to confirm the position of double-lumen tubes before thoracic surgery?☆

Abstract

After blind intubation, 37% of double-lumen tubes required repositioning by means of flexible bronchoscopy, despite positive evaluation made by the anesthesiologist. Our data suggests that initial bronchoscopic assessment should be made with the patient still in the supine position, and confirms that flexible bronchoscopy is useful in verifying the correct position of double-lumen tubes or adjusting possible misplacements, before starting thoracic surgery.