Clinical use of the pediatric flexible fiberscope

Office examination of the ears, nose, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx of the child has been simplified with the advent of flexible fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopes. The superior optics of recent generation fiberscopes permit excellent visualization of these structures for both diagnosis and assessment of the efficacy of medical and surgical treatment. The Machida ENT-3L pediatric model has a distal tip diameter of 3.3 mm, making it the narrowest standard production fiberscope available in the U.S.A., and is totally waterproof. The author reviews a large clinical experience with the Machida ENT-3L and compares it with the Machida ENT-4L (standard adult), and the Olympus ENF-P models. Comparisons will be made of the optics, ease of passage through the upper aerodigestive tract of younger and older children, ease of handling, and ability to permit taking endoscopic photographs (both still and video).