Prophylactic nasopharyngeal tube insertion prevents acute hypoxaemia due to upper-airway obstruction during flexible bronchoscopy
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Updated: Sep 23, 2026

The Flexible Rhino-Laryngoscope for Awake Nasotracheal Intubation
Published on: August 2, 2024
P N Chhajed1, C Aboyoun, M A Malouf
1Heart Lung Transplant Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. chhajed@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Insertion of a nasopharyngeal tube (NT) is a highly effective approach to the management of acute hypoxaemia during flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in lung -transplant recipients. We noted that lung transplant recipients undergoing FB who had been treated previously with NT insertion had further episodes of oxygen desaturation (<90%), despite supplemental oxygen therapy. Prophylactic NT insertion prevented acute hypoxaemia in the majority of lung transplant recipients, with previously documented FB-related oxygen desaturation secondary to UAO. Additional jaw support may be needed in some patients with severe upper-airway obstruction.
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