Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation
11:19

Guidelines for Elective Pediatric Fiberoptic Intubation

Published on: January 17, 2011

The yield of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in pediatric intensive care patients

Dan Bar-Zohar1, Yakov Sivan

  • 1Pediatric Intensive Care, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street, Tel-Aviv 64239, Israel.

Chest
|October 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) significantly aid clinical management in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). These safe procedures are crucial for diagnosing airway pathologies and treating respiratory conditions in critically ill children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Pulmonology
  • Pediatric surgery

Background:

  • Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are diagnostic and therapeutic tools used in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).
  • Their specific contribution to the management of critically ill children with diverse respiratory conditions requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of FFB and BAL on the clinical management of patients within a pediatric intensive care unit.
  • To determine the safety and efficacy of these procedures in a pediatric critical care setting.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of medical records from 100 consecutive infants and children undergoing FFB with or without BAL in a tertiary care children's hospital PICU.
  • Procedures were categorized by indication: airway pathology, atelectasis treatment, and BAL.

Main Results:

  • 155 procedures were performed, primarily for airway pathology (74%) and atelectasis treatment (22.5%).
  • FFB led to a change from conservative to surgical management in 39% of airway pathology cases. BAL altered antimicrobial treatment in 33% of cases, and atelectasis treatment was successful in 74.3%.
  • No procedure-related mortality or life-threatening complications were observed.

Conclusions:

  • FFB is a safe and valuable procedure for managing critically ill pediatric patients with various respiratory diseases.
  • FFB and BAL significantly contribute to clinical decision-making and patient outcomes in the PICU.
  • Expertise in FFB should be a standard skill for PICU staff.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Systematic Bronchoscopy: the Four Landmarks Approach04:47

Systematic Bronchoscopy: the Four Landmarks Approach

Published on: June 23, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy01:30

Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy

Endoscopy is a non-surgical medical technique used to examine a person's internal organs and vessels. This lesson will focus on two types of endoscopic studies: bronchoscopy and thoracoscopy.
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due to...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques01:30

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques

Airway management is essential in emergency and surgical medicine, ensuring ventilation and oxygenation in patients who cannot maintain their own airway. Clinicians use a range of techniques and devices to secure the airway, depending on the patient’s condition and the clinical context. Key methods include endotracheal intubation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), supraglottic airway devices, and advanced visualization aids. In cases where these approaches fail, surgical airway interventions are...