Bronchoscopy Versus Imaging in Diagnosis of Airway Diseases in Critically Ill Children

A correct diagnosis is necessary for effective therapy of airway illness. Usually necessary for these invasive treatments. The "gold standard" for tracheobronchial pathology identification and diagnosis is rigid or fiber optic bronchoscopy. Fiber Optic is a procedure that is generally safe, although it can have negative effects, particularly in patients who are at greater risk. Therefore, it is important to continually develop and improve non-invasive procedures that enable airway examination.

The laryngotracheal and bronchial airway is affected by a wide range of diseases, and imaging is essential for assessing these anomalies. The location, scope, and type of these lesions may be determined with great accuracy using computed tomography.

Bronchoscopy allows direct visualization of trachea and bronchi by rigid open tube bronchoscope or flexible fiber optic scope. Detailed evaluation of airways with bronchoscopy offers advantages over other diagnostic tools and allows interventional procedures such as biopsy of lesions, removal of foreign bodies, dilatations of stenosis and obtaining samples for cytological and microbiologic analysis.

Bronchoscopy can be performed either by rigid or flexible instruments depending on the needs of patients. The pediatric airway is notably different from adults. It is smaller in size, larynx and tracheal proportion is more as compared to adults and epiglottis is more posterior and narrower .

Fiber Optic bronchoscopy with or without bronchoalveolar lavage is particularly important in the diagnosis and treatment of specific respiratory problems in critically ill infants and children hospitalized in the pediatric Intensive care unit.These comprise situations such as segmental lung collapse, pulmonary infections including community-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia, pulmonary infections in immunocompromised hosts, and pulmonary bleeding. In addition, bronchscopy has a special role in airway problems in very sick pediatric patients. It may be crucial in intubation of the difficult airways and in the assessment of airway anomalies.