One lung ventilation in a tracheostomized patient for video assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Abstract

Thoracic surgeries and video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) requires one lung ventilation for optimal surgical exposure. One lung ventilation can be achieved by the use of double lumen tube or with the use of endobronchial blockers. Lung isolation can be challenging in cases of difficult airway or in patients who have alternate airway access like in patients with tracheostomies. Such patients need modifications in technique to the conventional methods of achieving lung isolation. We present a case of patient with tracheostomy for VATS who was successfully managed with the help of EZ-Blocker® inserted through the tracheostomy tube.