Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy

Abstract

We have utilized a prototype pediatric flexible bronchoscope to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on pediatric patients ranging from 840 gm to 14 years of age. Flexible bronchoscopy, with appropriate instrumentation and careful attention to physiological requirements of the patient, is safe and effective in pediatric patients. The availability of new instrumentation promises to have as great an impact on pediatric pulmonology as the standard flexible bronchoscopes did on adult pulmonology. With this instrument, the indications for bronchoscopy may be considerably expanded.