Difficult airway and one lung ventilation

The number of indications for lung collapse during different procedures is rising. Difficult upper airway is more often encountered with the need for single lung ventilation. In patients with difficult airway, the safest approach is by placing a single-lumen endotracheal tube with the aid of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. Lung isolation in these patients is then achieved by means of a bronchial blocker. An alternative technique is exchanging the single-lumen for a double-lumen tube using an airway exchange catheter. When there is a tracheostomy in place, an independent bronchial blocker is recommended.