[Pediatric fiber bronchoscopy. Apropos 55 children examined]

We present our experience with 55 children in which we performed flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) using an Olympus BF3C20 instrument and by using sedation and local anaesthesia or laryngeal mask airway. Indications for performing this procedure were stridor, opportunist or recurrent pneumonia, persistent atelectasis, a suspected foreign body, confirmation of endobronchial tuberculosis and evaluation of tracheostomy. In 70% of the cases, the diagnosis was made by the FFB and 14 cases were normal. One child with severe hypoxia presented respiratory arrest and need intubation. Our results suggest that FFB is safe, has advantages over rigid bronchoscopy, avoids general anaesthetic and with laryngeal mask airway is possible to perform in patients of every age.