[An economical procedure for one-stage bronchofibroscopy and bronchography]

A fibreoptic bronchoscope is now commonplace as equipment for the respiratory physician. It can be used to facilitate and improve bronchography by certain technical modifications. First a fibreoptic bronchoscopy is performed by the nasal route. In this way bronchial lesions and anatomical variants can be seen. A careful aspiration of the bronchi to be examined as well as local anaesthesia bronchus by bronchus is performed. The fibreoptic scope is then withdrawn to the oropharynx, enabling a superior view of the larynx. A Métras catheter, whose angle is modified by the biopsy forceps is introduced into the free nostril and the catheter is easily passed between the vocal cords under the direct view of the fibreoptic scope. Thus, except for the Métras catheter which remains indispensable, one can pass all the long standing material that has been used in this examination. In addition the achievement of fiberoscopy and bronchography at the same time seems to us both a better technique and an appreciable saving of time. Since 1980, 40 bronchographies have been performed with this technique, with no failures.