A Clinical Comparison of Bronchial Cuff Pressures in Three Different Designs of Left Double‐Lumen Tubes

&NA; This study compared the bronchial cuff pressures and volumes required by three different designs of disposable left double‐lumen tubes during clinical one‐lung ventilation in 48 patients having right thoracotomies. Mallinckrodt, Rusch, and Sheridan design tubes (n = 16 for each) were studied in a randomized fashion using Fr# 35, 37, 39, and 41 sizes (n = 12 for each size). There were no pressure/volume differences between brands during bronchial cuff inflation before endotracheal intubation. Intraoperatively, the Sheridan design required significantly higher mean bronchial cuff pressures: [27.9 cm H2O ± 17 cm H2O (SD)] than either the Mallinckrodt [17.6 cm H2O ± 8.5 cm H2O (P = 0.012)] or Rusch [14.1 cm H2O ± 8.6 cm H2O (P = 0.010)] to achieve one‐lung isolation. During prolonged one‐lung ventilation, the potential for trauma to the bronchus may be reduced with a Mallinckrodt or Rusch design of left double‐lumen tube. (Anesth Analg 1993;77:305‐8)