Comparison of silicone double-lumen tube and polyvinyl chloride single-lumen tube in fiberoptic tracheal intubation on a difficult airway model: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

The management of patients with history or suspicion of difficult intubation can be challenging, especially in surgical procedures requiring one-lung ventilation. The ease of insertion of silicone double lumen tube (DLT) have previously been shown to be comparable to polyvinyl single lumen tube (SLT) in fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) tracheal intubation. Hence, in difficult airway situation, we hypothesized that the performance of insertion of silicone DLT would also be non-inferior to polyvinyl SLT in FOB intubation. We used a neck collar to mimic patients with difficult airway. 80 patients who required one-lung ventilation were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, non-inferiority trial. Patients were randomly allocated to the DLT or SLT groups (SLT with bronchial blocker). Neck collar was supplied to all patients before FOB intubation. The time of insertion for FOB, railroading, tracheal intubation, and total procedure were measured. The difficulty of railroading was evaluated in 4 grades. In the DLT group, the railroading was significantly shorter and easier comparing to the SLT group. The total procedure was also simpler and faster in the DLT group. While simulated difficult airways may not fully replicate actual difficult airways, we suggest that fiberoptic intubation with silicone DLT could be a feasible first-line option for patients with expected difficult airways requiring lung separation, unless the size of the DLT relative to the patient’s airway is problematic. Trial registration: NCT03392766.