Selective Left Endobronchial Suctioning in the Intubated Patient

Suctioning of secretions from the left endobronchial tree is frequently necessary but often difficult in intubated patients. We examined the effectiveness of a catheter designed expressly for this purpose. Special curved tip (Bronchitrac-L) suction catheters were fitted with thin, radiopaque tubing to facilitate x-ray visualization. Eighty-one attempts at left endobronchial placement were made on 74 stable adult intensive care unit patients. The suction catheter was inserted into the oral endotracheal tube or tracheostomy tube just prior to an x-ray filming of the chest. In 15 of 66 patients, the tip of the oral endotracheal tube was too distal (