Prediction of double-lumen tube size for Asian women by ultrasonography: A prospective observational study

Abstract Objective To assess the agreement of the diameter of the cricoid cartilage by computed tomography and ultrasonography and to compare the accuracy of the left double-lumen tubes (DLTs) and right DLTs predicted by ultrasonography for Asian women. Design Prospective observational study. Setting Academic, tertiary care hospital. Participants Fifty female patients intubated with a left DLT and 50 female patients intubated with a right DLT. Interventions No intervention. Measurements and Main Results A radiologist measured the transverse cricoid diameter by computed tomography (CT) and an independent echographer measured the transverse cricoid diameter using ultrasonography. The size of the DLT was selected based on the cricoid diameter by ultrasonography. The agreement of the transverse cricoid diameter by computed tomography and ultrasonography was assessed. The accuracy of the DLT, the tracheal segment and the bronchial segment were compared between the Left intubation group and Right intubation group. There was a good agreement between the transverse cricoid diameter measured by ultrasonography and CT (r = 0.946, P Conclusions The transverse diameter of the cricoid cartilage in most Asian women can be accurately measured by ultrasonography. The size of the DLT for Asian women can be predicted by ultrasonography measurement of the cricoid diameter.