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The ultra-thin bronchoscope in management of the difficult paediatric airway

Abstract

The use of an ultra-thin flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope with a single lumen diameter of 2.7 mm at the distal tip to assist intubation of paediatric patients with a difficult airway is reported. Two patients (ages 30 months and 18 months) with mandibular hypoplasia and one patient (three months) with the Pierre-Robin syndrome are reported. In each case two fiberoptic bronchoscopes were used. The first allowed introduction of topical local anaesthetic while the second and smaller one was used for tube placement.

Résumé

On rapporte ľutilisation ďun bronchoscope flexible ultra-fin ayant à son bout distal une seule lumière ďun diamètre de 2.7 mm afin de faciliter ľintubation de patients pédiatriques présentant des difficultés des voies respiratoires. On rapporte le cas de deux patients (âges de 30 et de 18 mois) souffrant ďhypoplasie mandibulaire et ďun patient (âge de trois mois) souffrant du syndrome de Pierre-Robin. Dans chacun des cas on a utilisé deux bronchoscopes. Le premier permettait de pratiquer une anesthésie topique tandis que le second plus petit était utilisé pour installer le tube.

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Kleeman, PP., Jantzen, JP.A.H. & Bonfils, P. The ultra-thin bronchoscope in management of the difficult paediatric airway. Can J Anaesth 34, 606–608 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03010520

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03010520

Key words

  • equipment: bronchoscope
  • fiberoptic bronchoscope
  • intubation
  • tracheal: difficult