[Placement of a bronchial blocker through the I-gel supraglottic airway device for single-lung ventilation: preliminary study]. / Ventilación unipulmonar con bloqueador bronquial a través del dispositivo supraglótico I-gel. Estudio preliminar.

To describe the use of the I-gel supraglottic airway device when placing a bronchial blocker for single-lung ventilation, as applied in a preliminary study to explore the feasibility of adopting the technique with appropriate, selected patients undergoing certain thoracic surgery procedures. We used the technique for single-lung ventilation in 25 patients who required isolation of a lung for a variety of thoracic surgical procedures. A bronchial blocker was placed under direct visualization through a fiberoptic bronchoscope and the I-gel supraglottic device. The I-gel mask allowed us to establish a reliable, safe seal of the airway. For an anesthetist with sufficient experience in managing a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, it was possible to carry out all procedures without remarkable anesthetic or surgical events. Single-lung ventilation achieved by introducing a bronchial blocker through the I-gel supraglottic device can facilitate safe, effective management of selected patients who must undergo certain thoracic surgery procedures.

Ventilación unipulmonar con bloqueador bronquial a través del dispositivo supraglótico I-gel. Estudio preliminar / Placement of a bronchial blocker through the I-gel supraglottic airway device for singlelung ventilation: preliminary study

El objetivo es describir la técnica del ventilación unipulmonar utilizando el dispositivo supraglótico i-gel y un bloqueador bronquial como estudio preliminar para su posible aplicación futura en el manejo de determinados pacientes y procedimientos quirúrgicos torácicos adecuadamente seleccionados. Se describe la ventilación unipulmonar realizada en 25 pacientes sometidos a diferentes procedimientos de cirugía torácica en los que era necesario el aislamiento pulmonar selectivo. Éste se realizó con un bloqueador bronquial colocado, mediante visión directa fibrobroncoscópica, a través del dispositivo supraglótico i-gel. Gracias al diseño de la mascarilla i-gel, el cual permite un sellado fiable y seguro de la vía aérea, y a una adecuada experiencia en el manejo del fibrobroncoscopio óptico flexible se consiguió llevar a cabo la totalidad de los procedimientos sin incidencias reseñables tanto desde el punto de vista anestésico como quirúrgico. La ventilación unipulmonar conseguida con bloqueador bronquial, introducido a través del dispositivo supraglótico i-gel, puede ser una alternativa segura y eficaz para el manejo de pacientes que, adecuadamente seleccionados, sean sometidos a determinados procedimientos torácicos(AU)

To describe the use of the I-gel supraglottic airway device when placing a bronchial blocker for single-lung ventilation, as applied in a preliminary study to explore the feasibility of adopting the technique with appropriate, selected patients undergoing certain thoracic surgery procedures. We used the technique for single-lung ventilation in 25 patients who required isolation of a lung for a variety of thoracic surgical procedures. A bronchial blocker was placed under direct visualization through a fiberoptic bronchoscope and the I-gel supraglottic device. The I-gel mask allowed us to establish a reliable, safe seal of the airway. For an anesthetist with sufficient experience in managing a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, it was possible to carry out all procedures without remarkable anesthetic or surgical events. Single-lung ventilation achieved by introducing a bronchial blocker through the I-gel supraglottic device can facilitate safe, effective management of selected patients who must undergo certain thoracic surgery procedures(AU)