Application of wire-guided endobronchial blocker for one-lung ventilation in patient with tracheostomy--a case report.

One-lung ventilation (OLV) with a double-lumen endotracheal tube or Univent may be achieved difficulty in morbidly obese, mouth opening-limited or critically ill patients. Now, a new fiberoptically directed wire-guided endobronchial blocker (WEB) can be applied for these conditions. We report the use of a new endobronchial blocker in a pharyngeal cancer patient after pharyngectomy. The original 10# Shiley endotracheal tube was exchanged with reinforced cuffed tracheal tube. Then we use the WEB to achieve OLV. The WEB was guided by a loop, and through the appropriate position of left main bronchus by pediatric fiberoptic bronchoscope. Finally, OLV was accomplished smoothly with combination of a non-kinking endotracheal tube and a WEB.