Measurements of the length and diameter of main bronchi on three-dimensional images in Asian adult patients in comparison with the height of patients.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the length and diameter of the main bronchus using the three-dimensional reconstruction images from the spiral chest computerized tomography scans in Asian adult patients, and to evaluate the relationship between the height of patients and the length and diameter of main bronchi.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Academic, tertiary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred Asian adults undergoing a chest spiral computerized tomography scan.

INTERVENTION: No intervention.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

The authors measured the anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the mid-portion of the right main bronchus and 2 cm below the carina of the left main bronchus. In addition, the length of both main bronchi was also measured. The length of the left main bronchus was about 3-4 times greater than its right counterpart. The main bronchus of women was oval-shape, with a large anteroposterior diameter, but the main bronchus of men was round-shape. There was no significant correlation between the measurements of main bronchi and the height of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that there is no direct relationship between the length and diameter of main bronchi and the height of patients. The height is not the criterion for choosing DLT size. Therefore, the authors proposed that 3-D images be used to determine the size of the main bronchi. The diameter of main bronchus using the 3-D images can be used to determine the optimal size of the DLT in a clinical setting, although further studies are needed.