Laryngeal mask airway combined with visual bronchial blocker versus double-lumen tube for lung isolation in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

introductionPostoperative sore throat and hoarseness are common complications following lung isolation with double-lumen tubes (DLTs) in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) combined with a visual bronchial blocker (VBB) may reduce airway trauma while maintaining effective lung isolation. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a prospective, randomised, controlled, single-blind, multicentre clinical trial conducted at three major thoracic surgery centres in Shanghai, China. A total of 270 patients aged ≥18 years scheduled for elective VATS anatomical lung resection will be randomly allocated 1:1 to either the VBB group (n=135) using LMA combined with VBB or the DLT group (n=135) using conventional DLT (see Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials diagram). The primary outcome is the incidence of sore throat and hoarseness at 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include sore throat and hoarseness at 1 and 48 hours, intraoperative device performance, lung collapse quality, intubation time, haemodynamic changes, emergence quality, device-related complications and hospital length of stay. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Chest Hospital (KS24042). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07117539).