Feasibility study of intubation in lateral position using Viva-sight double-lumen tube combined with video laryngoscope in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy.

Background: Double-lumen tube (DLT) intubation in lateral decubitus position is rarely reported. We designed this study to evaluate the feasibility of VivaSight double-lumen tube (VDLT) intubation assisted by video laryngoscope in lateral decubitus patients.

Methods: Patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung lobectomy were assessed for eligibility between January 2022 and December, 2022. Eligible patients were randomly allocated into supine intubation group (group S) and lateral intubation group (group L) by a computer-generated table of random numbers. The prime objective was to observe whether the success rate of VDLT intubation in lateral position with the aid of video laryngoscope was not inferior to that in supine position.

Results: A total of 116 patients were assessed, and 88 eligible patients were randomly divided into group L (n = 44) and group S (n = 44). The success rate of the first attempt intubation in the L group was 90.5%, lower than that of S group (97.7%), but there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05). Patients in both groups were intubated with VDLT for no more than 2 attempts. The mean intubation time was 91.98 ± 26.70 s in L group, and 81.39 ± 34.35 s in S group (p > 0.05). The incidence of the capsular malposition in the group L was 4.8%, less than 36.4% of group S (p < 0.001). After 24 h of follow-up, it showed a higher incidence of sore throat in group S, compared to that in group L (p = 0.009).

Conclusion: Our study shows the comprehensive success rate of intubation in lateral decubitus position with VDLT assisted by video laryngoscope is not inferior to that in supine position, with less risk of intraoperative tube malposition and postoperative sore throat.

Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trail Register (ChiCTR2200062989).