[Isolated rupture of the left main-stem bronchus during intubation with a Carlens tube]

A case is reported of bronchial rupture due to a Carlens double-lumen tube. A 73 year old male patient was to undergo a double right lower and middle lobectomy for carcinoma. All went well and as expected until 20 min after the start of left-sided unilateral ventilation by way of the double-lumen tube. A sudden increase in the inspiratory pressures led to the discovery, first, of a leak around the cuff, and then, air bubbles in the mediastinum. Surgical exploration showed up the 4 cm long rupture in the pars membrana of the left main bronchus through which the cuff was herniating. The patient was reintubated and the rupture surgically repaired. The right upper lobe had not been ventilated for 45 min and there were signs of micro-atelectasia. The immediate postoperative course was rather stormy, with severe cardiac failure, recurring right upper lobe atelectasia and bilateral pulmonary infection. The patient was only definitely weaned from the respirator 40 days after the surgical incident. Although such complications with double-lumen tubes are rare, they must be recognized and surgically repaired very rapidly. A few simple rules to prevent these complications are discussed.