A randomised control trial of surgical task performance in rigid bronchoscopy: foreign body extraction with optical...

There are currently two types of forceps used for foreign body removal at rigid bronchoscopy, these can be classified as standard bronchoscopy forceps and optically guided grasping forceps. In order to evaluate them in the removal of foreign bodies from the tracheo-bronchial tree a randomised subject controlled trial was conducted. All 80 bronchoscopies were recorded and analysed by a single observer according to predetermined criteria for surgical error. The data was analysed using a t-test for paired groups. The results showed no significant differences between the two groups. We conclude that no clear advantages were found comparing the optically guided forceps with the standard bronchoscopy forceps and that further clinical evaluation will be difficult to initiate.