Prediction of Double-Lumen Tube Size By Ultrasonography for Asian Women: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the agreement of the diameter of the cricoid cartilage by computed tomography and ultrasonography and to compare the accuracy of the left double-lumen tubes (DLTs) and right DLTs predicted by ultrasonography for Asian women.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Academic, tertiary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty female patients intubated with a left DLT and 50 female patients intubated with a right DLT.

INTERVENTIONS: No intervention.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

A radiologist measured the transverse cricoid diameter by computed tomography (CT), and an independent echographer measured the transverse cricoid diameter using ultrasonography. The size of the DLT was selected based on the cricoid diameter by ultrasonography. The agreement of the transverse cricoid diameter was assessed by computed tomography and ultrasonography. The accuracy of the DLT, the tracheal segment, and the bronchial segment were compared between the left intubation group and right intubation group. There was a good agreement between the transverse cricoid diameter measured by ultrasonography and CT (r = 0.946, p < 0.001). The overall accuracy of the DLTs was similar between the groups (86.0% v 92.0%, p = 0.318). There were no significant differences in the accuracy of the tracheal segment (96.0% v 94.0%; p = 1.000) and the bronchial segment (90.0% v 98.0%, p = 0.056).

CONCLUSIONS

The transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage in most Asian women can be accurately measured by ultrasonography. The size of the DLT for Asian women can be predicted by ultrasonography measurement of the cricoid diameter.