Single-lumen Endotracheal Intubation in ENB-guided Localization and Resection of Pulmonary Nodules

Overview

The goal of this clinical study is to evaluate the practicality, safety, and feasibility of a 'one-stop' single-lumen (SL) endotracheal intubation strategy for patients undergoing wedge resection of early-stage lung nodules with electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB)-guided localization. The main question it aims to answer is: • Is the 'one-stop' SL strategy, where an SL tube is used continuously from ENB localization through surgery, non-inferior to the conventional practice of switching from an SL to a double-lumen (DL) tube in terms of perioperative outcomes and complication rates? Participants scheduled for ENB-guided localization followed by wedge resection will be managed with either the proposed 'one-stop' SL intubation method or the conventional SL-to-DL conversion method. Researchers will compare key perioperative indicators and patient outcomes between the two groups.

With increased health awareness and the widespread use of low-dose CT for lung cancer screening, early detection rates have risen. For early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, sub-lobar resection (segmentectomy or wedge resection) is now strongly recommended for peripheral nodules ≤2 cm without nodal involvement, as per recent landmark trials and NCCN guidelines. However, for wedge resection, precise localization and minimization of pulmonary function impairment still pose challenges for thoracic surgeons. Therefore, achieving effective resection while preserving lung function as much as possible necessitates precise localization of pulmonary nodules. The CT-guided hook-wire localization method is currently the most frequently used technique in clinical practice for pulmonary nodule localization, but patients may experience significant pain and there is a risk of dislodgement of the hook wire during patient transfer or positioning before surgery. Furthermore, CT localization results in a high risk of pneumothorax and bleeding. The emergence of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) not only alleviates patient discomfort but also reduces surgical time and lowers the risk of complications. Typically, during ENB-guided localization, a single-lumen (SL) endotracheal tube is used under general anesthesia and subsequently replaced with a double-lumen (DL) endotracheal tube after the procedure. However, the conversion from SL to DL could potentially elevate the possibility of airway damage and anesthetic complications. Therefore, in patients undergoing wedge resection with ENB-guided localization, the investigators propose a 'one-stop' SL strategy, in which an SL tube is employed throughout the entire process from localization to surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the practicality of utilizing SL endotracheal intubation for the entire process of ENB-guided localization and subsequent surgical procedure, referred as 'one-stop' SL. By comparing the conventional practice of the transition from SL to DL intubation with our proposed 'one-stop' SL intubation method based on perioperative indicators and patient outcomes, the investigators hope to determine whether the 'one-stop' SL strategy is safe and feasible clinically.