Left double-lumen tube with or without a carinal hook: A randomised controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Left double-lumen tracheal tubes (DLTs) are standard for lung isolation in anesthesia.
• These tubes may or may not include a hook to engage the carina.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of DLTs with and without a carinal hook.
• To evaluate the impact of the carinal hook on tube placement and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, controlled, single-blinded study was conducted at a university hospital.
• 184 patients undergoing lung resection were included.
• The primary outcome measure was the time required for correct tube placement.

Main Results:

• Placement time was similar for DLTs with (67.5 s) and without (81.0 s) a hook (P = 0.43).
• Adequate tube position on the first attempt was comparable (68.5% vs. 69.6%, P = 0.95).
• Incidences of sore throat and minor airway lesions were similar between groups.

Conclusions:

• The carinal hook on DLTs offers no significant advantage or disadvantage.
• Its presence does not increase complications during lung isolation for anesthesia.