Selection of double lumen tube size based on bronchial diameter

Measured bronchial diameter (mm)	DLT size (Fr)	Left bronchial lumen outer diameters from four manufacturers (mm)
Measured bronchial diameter (mm)	DLT size (Fr)	Mallinckrodt (St. Louis, MO)	Rusch (Duluth, GA)	Sheridan (Argyle, NY)	Portex (Keene, NH)
≥12	41	10.6	11.5	10.7	12.0
12	39	10.1	10.8	9.9	11.2
11	37	10.0	10.1	9.9	10.2
10	35	9.5	9.4	9.3	9.7

Based on measured bronchial diameter.

DLT: double lumen tube; Fr: french.

Data from:

Benumof JL, Partridge BL, Salvatierra C, Keating J. Margin of safety in positioning modern double-lumen endotracheal tubes. Anesthesiology 1987; 67:729.
Hannallah MS, Benumof JL, Ruttimann UE. The relationship between left mainstem bronchial diameter and patient size. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 1995; 9:119.
Campos JH. Lung separation techniques. In: Thoracic Anesthesia, 3rd ed, Kaplan AH, Slinger PD (Eds), Elsevier Science, Philadelphia 2003. p.159.

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