Tracheal Bronchus and Successful Right-Sided Isolation With a Bronchial Blocker

The presence of a tracheal bronchus, which is often incidentally discovered, complicates endotracheal intubation and lung isolation during thoracic surgery. Prior reports of successful right-sided lung isolation in the presence of tracheal bronchus required utilization of a double lumen tube. Although right-sided lung isolation was required in our case, due to other patient factors, it was determined that a double lumen tube of a suitable size would be unlikely to be placed safely and successfully. We describe the successful use of a Rüsch EZ-Blocker bronchial blocker in obtaining right-sided isolation in a patient with a difficult airway and tracheal bronchus.