The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 58, 892-894, Copyright © 1994 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Airway management during bilateral sequential lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis
MS Soberman, EJ Kraenzler, M Licina, CD Fraser Jr and TJ Kirby
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195.
Bilateral sequential lung transplantation is now an accepted therapy for
patients with end-stage cystic fibrosis. In our experience, the use of a
standard double-lumen endotracheal tube to establish one-lung ventilation
during bilateral lung transplantation has been associated with difficulty
in clearing the airway of the thick, tenacious secretions
characteristically seen in these patients. Intraoperatively, retained
secretions have resulted in inadequate ventilation with subsequent
hypercarbia, hypoxia, and the need for cardiopulmonary bypass support. We
therefore changed our airway management to a single- lumen endotracheal
tube combined with a bronchial blocker to establish one-lung ventilation
during bilateral lung transplantation. The lumen of a single-lumen tube
accommodates larger suction catheters and an adult bronchoscope, which has
a larger suction port. We have used this technique in our last five
transplantations, finding easier clearing of airway secretions along with
markedly improved ventilation compared with management with a double-lumen
tube. We recommend this technique of airway management when performing a
bilateral single-lung transplantation for end-stage cystic fibrosis.