Postoperative outcomes of lung separation with double-lumen tubes and bronchial blockers

Abstract Objectives The choice between a double-lumen tube (DLT) and a bronchial blocker (BB) for lung isolation remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine if the features of these lung isolation devices affect postoperative pulmonary outcomes. Methods We retrospectively identified claims by patients who underwent surgery under lung isolation in 2000–2012 in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. After matching for age, sex, and year of surgery, 1898 patients were enrolled in the BB group and 5694 in the DLT group. The risks of readmission in the first postoperative year with pulmonary complications, in-hospital death, and one-year mortality were estimated using conditional logistic regression analysis. Results Patients in the BB group had higher risks of readmission with pulmonary infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22–1.74), respiratory failure (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09–1.76), in-hospital deaths (aOR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.40–2.94), and one-year mortality rate (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.60–2.35) in the first postoperative year than did those in the DLT group after adjusting for the type of surgery, difficult airway condition, hospital accreditation level, and underlying comorbidity. Patients in the BB group had longer median (interquartile range) stays in the intensive care unit (1 [0–4] versus 1 [0–3] days, P < 0.001) and in hospital (16 [10–26] versus 13 [8–22] days, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions Patients undergoing thoracic surgery are more likely to experience postoperative pulmonary complications related to BB than to DLT.