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Rigid Versus Flexible Bronchoscopy

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From Thoracic Surgery to Interventional Pulmonology

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM))

Abstract

Flexible and rigid bronchoscopes are complementary tools for the evaluation and treatment of a variety of airway disorders. Each device has its unique set of advantages and drawbacks. Although there are several instruments that can be used with either apparatus, the operation of each type of bronchoscope varies significantly. In the right hands, the combination of bronchoscopes forms the foundation of comprehensive airway disease management. They have a wide range of applications in the diagnosis and treatment of both benign and malignant airway diseases. Independent of the type of bronchoscope used, the cornerstones of procedural success remain the same: expert skillset, appropriate patient selection, optimal positioning, control of the procedural environment, deliberate movements, and an in-depth understanding of local anatomy. In this chapter, we discuss the history, design, and contemporary applications within thoracic medicine of these two essential tools.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Sameer K. Avasarala & Fabien Maldonado

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Erin A. Gillaspie

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  1. Sameer K. Avasarala
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Director of Interventional Pulmonology, Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Wyoming Medical Center, Casper, WY, USA

    J. Francis Turner, Jr.

  2. Pulmonary and Critical Care, Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center, Clarksburg, WV, USA

    Prasoon Jain

  3. Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kazuhiro Yasufuku

  4. Buoncore Family Endowed Chair in Lung Transplantation, Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Atul C. Mehta

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Avasarala, S.K., Gillaspie, E.A., Maldonado, F. (2021). Rigid Versus Flexible Bronchoscopy. In: Turner, Jr., J.F., Jain, P., Yasufuku, K., Mehta, A.C. (eds) From Thoracic Surgery to Interventional Pulmonology. Respiratory Medicine. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80298-1_1

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