Tracheobronchoscopy and esophagoscopy in current ear-nose-throat practice: an update

Rigid and flexible bronchoscopies and upper aerodigestive endoscopy are important diagnostic and therapeutic tools in ENT. The use of flexible upper aerodigestive endoscopy allows simultaneous percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement. Based on a similar study analyzing endoscopies performed in 1995, an anonymous questionnaire was developed by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Endoskopie of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Head and Neck Surgery to determine current trends in the use of bronchoscopy and upper aerodigestive endoscopy. Questionnaires were sent to 165 different ENT institutions in Germany. 57 questionnaires were evaluated. 4,294 rigid and 3,965 flexible bronchoscopies were performed as well as 8,897 rigid and 2,211 flexible upper aerodigestive endoscopies. These results are shown according to the size (number of beds) of the performing institutions. Foreign body removals and PEG placements were also analyzed and compared with previous studies. In conclusion, the survey shows that the total number of procedures performed is comparable to the number performed in 1995. There is, however, a considerable increase in the number of flexible procedures performed, especially in upper aerodigestive endoscopies. It is commendable that all 57 institutions provide PEGs for their patients. However, only about one-fifth of these is placed by the treating ENT, despite the fact that panendoscopies provide an ideal setting for the performance of this procedure. An improvement of this situation would be desirable.