Flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy in 582 children--value of route, sedation and local anesthetic.

The value of route, sedation and local anesthetic was studied in 582 children aged 50 days to 12 years who were subjected to flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FFBS) at the Institutes of Child Health, Madras, during January 1989 to July 1993. Pentax 3.5 mm and Olympus 4.9 mm bronchoscopes were used. Bronchoscopy was performed with sedation and/or local anesthetic through nasal/oral route after premedication with atropine. It was successfully carried out through nasal route in 97.4% and only in 40% through oral route. As nasal route proved advantageous, the oral route was abandoned.