Clinical application of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in neonatal respiratory diseases

Respiratory disease is a predominantly observed problem in neonates. Moreover, the application of flexible bronchoscopy in newborns is gradually increasing. This study aimed to investigate the value of bronchoscopy in neonates respiratory abnormalities and evaluate the safety of bronchoscopy application.

Clinical data and outcomes of 56 neonates who underwent flexible bronchoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. Correlations among indications for bronchoscopy, findings, and clinical diseases were assessed.

A total of 56 neonates had a minimum weight of 1200 g at the time of bronchoscopy, while the minimum gestational age at birth was 26 + 1 weeks. A total of 22 cases (39.3%) had two or more clinical indications; the five most common indications were respiratory distress in 24 (42.9%), stridor in 22 (39.3%), pulmonary atelectasis in 10 (17.6%), feeding difficulty in 10 (17.6%), and difficult weaning from mechanical ventilation in 6 (10.7%) cases. A total of 13 types of abnormalities were detected in the respiratory tract. The most common abnormalities were laryngomalacia in 29 (59.2%), tracheobroncomalacia in 8 (16.3%), and vocal cord paralysis in 6 (12.2%) cases. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 39 cases. Eight cases were diagnosed by bronchoscopy and then treated with surgery in the Thoracic Surgery/Otolaryngology Department; all of them were cured and discharged from the hospital after surgery. No serious complications, such as pneumothorax or shock, occurred in any of the children, of whom none died.

Flexible bronchoscopy could play an important role in diagnosing and identifying respiratory disorders in neonates and be safely used with few serious complications.