Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Normothermic Negative Pressure Ventilation Ex Situ Lung Perfusion: Evaluation of Lung Function and Metabolism
Published on: February 14, 2022
Randomized clinical trial comparing double-lumen tube and EZ-Blocker for single-lung ventilation
K Ruetzler1, G Grubhofer, W Schmid
1Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. kurt.ruetzler@meduniwien.ac.at
The EZ-Blocker (EZ) is an efficient and easy-to-use alternative to the double-lumen tube (DLT) for single-lung ventilation during thoracic surgery. While intubation takes longer with EZ, it offers comparable surgical conditions and requires mandatory fiberoptic bronchoscopy verification.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Single-lung ventilation (SLV) is critical in thoracic surgery.
- Double-lumen tubes (DLTs) are standard for SLV, but bronchial blockers offer alternatives.
- The EZ-Blocker (EZ) is a novel device designed to improve upon DLT performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical performance of the EZ-Blocker (EZ) with conventional left-sided double-lumen tubes (DLTs).
- To evaluate intubation time, verification time, and surgical conditions for both devices.
Main Methods:
- Forty adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery requiring SLV were randomized into EZ or DLT groups.
- Intubation and fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) verification times were recorded.
- Surgeons rated lung collapse quality post-operatively.
Main Results:
- Double-lumen tube (DLT) intubation was significantly faster (85.5s) than EZ-Blocker (EZ) (192s) (P<0.001).
- Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) verification times were not significantly different between groups (P=0.556).
- Surgical conditions were rated equally for both devices (DLT 1.3 vs. EZ 1.4, P=0.681).
Conclusions:
- The EZ-Blocker (EZ) is an efficient and user-friendly alternative to conventional double-lumen tubes (DLTs).
- Despite longer intubation times, EZ provides comparable surgical conditions.
- Mandatory verification of EZ placement using fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is essential.
