Is there a place for rigid bronchoscopy in the management of pediatric lung disease?

A review of 364 rigid bronchoscopies in children is presented of whom 55% were younger than 3 years old. The commonest diagnoses in the under 1 year old group were related to congenital anomalies, in the 1-3 year group to inhaled foreign bodies, and in the over 3 year group to bronchiectasis. It is noted that some 30-40% of the tests could have been undertaken with a flexible bronchoscope, but it is suggested that the advantages of the flexible instrument in children with lung disease, as distinct from upper airway disease, are less than in adult practice. Clear benefits for the management of the patient should be obvious before undertaking bronchoscopy in children, and careful consideration should be given to the type of instrument most likely to provide the results desired.