Prospective study of the Robertshaw endobronchial catheter in thoracic surgery.

One hundred three men undergoing thoracotomy on a general thoracic surgery service received endobronchial anesthesia with 100% oxygen using the Robertshaw tube. Bronchial intubation was accomplished in all. However, cross-leak or difficulty with deflation necessitated discontinuance in 8, while Pao2 values of 41 and 45 mm Hg caused abandonment in 2. There were no operative deaths. Surprisingly, hypoxemia in these patients related more to insufficient alveolar ventilation than to the venoarterial shunt.