Double Lumen Tube Intubation

This is a prospective, randomized, single-center, three-arm, open-label, low-risk medical device clinical study conducted at the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Trakya University Medical Faculty. The study aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and clinical usability of three laryngoscopy methods for double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) intubation in patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation: (i) C-MAC hyperangulated (D-blade) videolaryngoscopy, (ii) C-MAC Macintosh blade videolaryngoscopy, and (iii) direct Macintosh laryngoscopy. The primary outcome is the total time to successful DLT placement (in seconds), defined as the interval from the end of mask ventilation to fiberoptic bronchoscopic confirmation of correct tube position. Secondary outcomes include glottic visualization quality (POGO score and Cormack-Lehane grade), intubation difficulty (Intubation Difficulty Scale), number of intubation attempts, need for auxiliary maneuvers, intubation-related complications, malposition rate, and postoperative airway symptoms (sore throat, dysphonia) assessed at 1, 6, and 24 hours postoperatively. Eligible patients are adults (≥18 years), ASA class I-III, scheduled for elective thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation. Patients with anticipated difficult airway, emergency surgery, pregnancy, or prior upper airway surgery are excluded. A total of 180 patients will be enrolled and randomized 1:1:1 into three groups (60 per group) using computer-generated block randomization.

Placement of a double-lumen tube (DLT) is one of the fundamental techniques for safely achieving one-lung ventilation in thoracic anesthesia. Compared with standard single-lumen endotracheal tubes, DLTs have a larger diameter, greater length, and a more rigid structure. These characteristics make intubation with a DLT considerably more challenging in both normal and difficult airways, potentially increasing the risk of upper airway trauma and postoperative complications, thereby contributing to increased overall morbidity and mortality. Despite its widespread clinical use, DLT placement remains a technically demanding procedure due to anatomical variability, limited visualization, and operator-dependent performance differences. The reported incidence of DLT malposition in the literature ranges from 32% to 83%. Even in studies reporting lower rates (approximately 32.44%), it is acknowledged that a substantial number of malpositions may go undetected, which can critically impact both patient safety and surgical outcomes. In addition to initial misplacement, repeated repositioning of a malpositioned DLT may itself lead to airway injury. Increased manipulation of the DLT within the bronchial tree may result in excessive trauma. DLT malposition may predispose patients to inadequate lung isolation, hypoxemia, tracheobronchial injury, and potential complications such as barotrauma or pneumothorax. Operator experience is recognized as a key determinant of success in airway management. Previous studies have demonstrated that technical proficiency in advanced airway interventions improves with cumulative clinical experience. However, most existing research has focused on basic airway devices, and evidence regarding advanced airway techniques such as DLT placement remains limited. Furthermore, the relative contributions of operator experience, airway difficulty, and device technology to procedural success have not been fully elucidated. To address the need for easier and safer endotracheal intubation, various types of video laryngoscopes have been developed as alternatives to direct laryngoscopy. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether video-assisted airway management reduces DLT malposition rates across different levels of operator experience. Simulation-based training has become increasingly important in modern anesthesiology education, providing a safe and standardized environment for the assessment of airway management skills. Accordingly, there is a need for simulation-based studies evaluating learning curves and technical performance in DLT placement. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of overall clinical experience and prior DLT placement experience on malposition rates during DLT insertion procedures performed in a simulation setting among anesthesiology residents. Secondary objectives include comparing the performance of video laryngoscopy and Macintosh laryngoscopy, as well as analyzing learning curves across repeated attempts. Additionally, the interaction between experience level, type of laryngoscope used, and airway difficulty will be investigated. Study Design and Population This study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and will be carried out at Ankara Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee. The study is designed as a prospective, observer-blinded, simulation-based study with repeated measures. It aims to evaluate DLT placement performance using standardized airway simulation models. All anesthesiology residents working in the Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation at Ankara Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital will be invited to participate on a voluntary basis (total of 33 participants). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Anesthesiology residents with varying levels of experience will be included voluntarily. Participants will be stratified based on years of residency training and the number of prior DLT placements performed. Airway simulation will be conducted using high-fidelity airway manikins equipped with bronchial anatomy modules. Intubation will be performed using a 37 Fr DLT. Simulation platforms with fiberoptic verification capability will be utilized. Prior to data collection, participants will receive standardized training on DLT placement.

This clinical trial aims to understand whether a visual double-lumen intubation tube can improve the first-attempt success rate and reduce complications compared to a standard double-lumen tube. The trial primarily aims to answer the following questions: Does a double-lumen tube improve the first-attempt success rate? Does a visual double-lumen tube reduce the likelihood of obstruction of the right upper lobe bronchial opening? Does a visual double-lumen tube require fewer adjustments during surgery? Do patients with visual double-lumen tubes experience fewer perioperative complications compared to those with standard double-lumen tubes? Participants will: Use a visual double-lumen tube partially and a standard double-lumen tube partially. Record the perioperative status of all patients.

The goal of this clinical trial is to know which type of laryngoscope is better for Double Lumen Tube (DLT) insertion, in participants undergoing elective thoracic surgeries. The main question aim to answer is Is C-MAC blade D video laryngoscope better than Macintosh laryngoscope for DLT insertion in term of time taking for intubation and hemodynamic changes to laryngoscopy? Researchers are comparing two groups of participants * Participants in Group A are receiving intubation from C-MAC blade D video laryngoscope. * Participants in Group B are receiving intubations from Macintosh laryngoscope.