VivaSight-DL Tube Positioner

Double-lumen tubes (DLTs) are used for lung isolation during thoracic and thoracoscopic surgery and in some non-surgical patients 1. However, their efficacy depends on correct positioning within the airways 2. The most common complication from DLT placement is pneumothorax. Other complications include tube malposition, tube displacement from the trachea, or airway injury from traumatic placement.

The use of fibreoptic bronchoscopy to verify the position of DLT is the standard of care. It is an important part of interprofessional education to avoid morbidity and mortality related to DLT placement 3.

VivaSight-DL (ETView Ltd., Misgav, Israel) is a left-sided DLT with an integrated high-resolution camera embedded at the end of the tracheal port to facilitate tube placement and continuous monitoring of the DLT's position. It is a single-use device available in four sizes: 35, 37, 39 and 41 Fr (Table 1).

In this study, the VivaSight-DL was compared with a standard DLT for tube intubation during thoracoscopic surgery in adult patients. Time to correct tracheal intubation was significantly shorter in the VivaSight-DL group than with a standard DLT. Additionally, the incidence of tube malposition was significantly lower in the VivaSight-DL patients compared with the standard DLT group.