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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

The Rigid Tube as an Alternative in Controlling the Problematic Airway
Published on: June 6, 2020
[Rigid respiratory endoscopy in children]
J C Fraga1, A Nogueira, B C Palombini
1Cirurgião Pediátrico e Endoscopista do Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio de Porto Alegre, Mestre em Medicina pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Insights
Rigid bronchoscopy in children is a safe and effective diagnostic tool for respiratory issues. This study found it useful for diagnosing conditions like laryngomalacia and foreign bodies with minimal complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Otolaryngology
Context:
- Respiratory endoscopy is crucial for diagnosing pediatric airway conditions.
- Rigid bronchoscopy is a common procedure in pediatric care.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rigid pediatric bronchoscopy.
- To identify common indications and diagnoses associated with the procedure.
Summary:
- 356 rigid bronchoscopies were performed on children over three years.
- Common indications included stridor, foreign body, atelectasis, and difficult tracheal extubation.
- Laryngomalacia and subglottic stenosis were frequent diagnoses, alongside foreign bodies and tracheomalacia.
Impact:
- Rigid bronchoscopy is confirmed as an efficient and safe procedure for pediatric airway evaluation.
- The study highlights the low incidence of serious complications, supporting its continued use.
Abstract:
From march 1989 to march 1992, three hundred and fifty six respiratory endoscopies were performed at "Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio", Porto Alegre, Brazil. The endoscopies were performed with a rigid pediatric bronchoscope and under general anaesthesia. The most common indications for endoscopy were stridor (52%), suspected foreign body (16%), atelectasis (16%) and difficult tracheal extubation (8%). The most frequent diagnosis were laryngomalacia (36%) and subglottic stenosis (6%) in the glottic and subglottic areas, and foreign body (9%) and tracheomalacia (7%) in the tracheobronchial area. Normal endoscopy was observed in 54 (21%) of the children. Only three slight complications of the endoscopy were observed. Two patients presented bradycardia during the exam, and the third needed tracheal intubation due to post-endoscopic subglottic edema. This confirms that the rigid endoscopy in children is efficient and has no serious complications.
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