[Modern endoscopic procedures for diseases of the respiratory tract]

Bronchoscopy is the most important diagnostic procedure for the work-up of central bronchial processes and parenchymal lung diseases, such as lung cancer, pneumonias or diffuse lung diseases. Recent progress - ultrasound, navigation systems or ultrathin bronchoscopes - was made to achieve a better yield in the diagnosis of peripheral and peribronchial lesions. Bronchial recanalisation by thermal ablation or stenting is mainly performed with rigid instruments; these procedures as well as brachytherapy in local anaesthesia should be restricted to specialized centers. If pleuracentesis does not provide the etiology of pleural effusion, thoracoscopy in local anaesthesia is the method of choice. The procedure does not only provide a definite diagnosis for almost all of the patients, it also allows the immediate option for talcum poudrage in case of pleural malignancy.