Bridging bronchus: Importance of recognition on airway endoscopy

Bridging bronchus is an anomalous bronchus, which crosses the mediastinum from the contralateral mainstem bronchus and it is commonly associated with congenital great vessel abnormalities. This is a case report of an infant that underwent airway endoscopy and attempt at cannulation of a mainstem bronchus with supposed bronchial cast after cardiac surgery in the intensive care unit. After multiple failed attempts, further workup was completed which revealed a bridging bronchus. A bridging bronchus must be suspected in a patient with abnormal appearing endoscopy in presence of great vessel anomalies to prevent accidental injury to the tracheobronchial tree.