An unusual way to use an endobronchial blocker

The techniques for lung isolation in infants are, endobronchial intubation and bronchical blockade with Fogarty catheter or a univent tube. Unlike endobronchial intubation, bronchial blockade has the advantage that lung can be segregated at will. Endobronchial blocker is usually placed as a planned procedure just after induction of anaesthesia either under vision with the help of a fibreoptic bronchoscope or alternatively a rigid bronchoscope is used to position it in either bronchus and later the trachea. We report here a rather unusual and desperate way of using a Fogarty catheter halfway through the surgery due to unforeseen bleeding during thoracotomy. The pros and cons of attempting selective segregation and regional ventilation of lung under these circumstances is discussed.