The knowledge and association of different methods in pediatric bronchoscopy add the benefits of one method to another, minimizing the chances of therapeutic failure.

Objective: To determine the success rate of flexible bronchoscopy as the first-choice method of removing foreign bodies from the airways of adults. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all adult patients (over 18 years of age) with foreign body aspiration submitted to bronchoscopy between January of 2009 and January of 2011 at the University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas, located in São Paulo, Brazil. Results:The study sample comprised 40 adult patients, with a mean age of 52 years (range, 18-88 years). The median time of permanence of the foreign body in the airway was 15 days (range, 12 h to 10 years). All of the patients first underwent diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy. Foreign bodies were successfully removed with flexible bronchoscopy in 33 (82.5%) of the patients. In 1 patient, a metal object lodged in the distal bronchial tree required the use of fluoroscopy. Six patients (15%) required rigid bronchoscopy due to tracheal foreign bodyinduced dyspnea, in 2, and because the foreign body was too large for the flexible forceps, in 4. Bronchoscopy failed in 1 patient, who therefore required surgical bronchotomy. Conclusions: Although rigid bronchoscopy is considered the gold standard for the removal of foreign bodies from the airways, our experience showed that flexible bronchoscopy can be safely and effectively used in the diagnosis and treatment of stable adult patients.Keywords: Bronchoscopy; Foreign bodies; Airway obstruction; Airway management. ResumoObjetivo: Determinar a taxa de sucesso da broncoscopia flexível como primeira opção na remoção de corpos estranhos das vias aéreas em adultos. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de todos os pacientes adultos (acima de 18 anos) com aspiração de corpo estranho submetidos à broncoscopia no Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, em São Paulo (SP). Resultados: A amostra foi constituída por 40 pacientes adultos, com média de idade de 52 anos (variação: 18-88 anos). A mediana do tempo de permanência do corpo estranho na via aérea foi de 15 dias (variação: 12 h a 10 anos). Todos os pacientes foram submetidos primeiramente a broncoscopia flexível diagnóstica. A retirada do corpo estranho por meio de broncoscopia flexível foi bem-sucedida em 33 dos pacientes (82,5%). Em 1 paciente, um objeto metálico alojado na árvore brônquica distal requereu o uso de fluoroscopia. Seis pacientes (15%) foram submetidos à broncoscopia rígida devido a dispneia induzida por corpo estranho traqueal, em 2, e porque o corpo estranho era muito grande para as pinças flexíveis, em 4. A broncoscopia falhou em apenas 1 paciente, que portanto necessitou de broncotomia cirúrgica. Conclusões: Embora a broncoscopia rígida seja considerada o padrão ouro na remoção de corpos estranhos na via aérea, nossa experiência mostrou que a broncoscopia flexível pode ser utilizada segura e eficientemente no diagnóstico e tratamento de pacientes adultos estáveis.Descritores: Broncoscopia; Corpos estranhos; Obstrução das vias respiratórias; Manuse...

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Objective To describe indications, clinical outcomes and complications of flexible bronchoscopy.Methods A descriptive observational study of bronchoscopies performed at the endoscopy service of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein . Demographic (age, gender and origin) and medical (indications and results of endoscopy and diagnostic tests, such as biopsy collection, lavage, cytology and culture) data were analyzed. Electronic medical records with incomplete data or reporting interventional procedures were excluded.Results Over a three-year period (2013 to 2016), a total of 1,949 bronchoscopies were performed by respiratory endoscopy team and anesthesia specialists of the hospital. The mean age of patients was 57.7±21.9 years (range of 3 days to 99 years), with prevalence of males (56.4%). The procedures were mostly (86.3%) elective and 30.7% were carried out in the intensive care unit. Major indications for bronchoscopy were infection or secretion (42.4%), followed by suspected neoplasm (10.8%). Endoscopic changes were reported in 91.9% of cases, with more than one change described in approximately 6.9% of patients. Positive results were obtained via direct testing or culture in 36.3% and 53.9% of 1,399 bronchoalveolar lavages, respectively. The overall diagnostic yield (bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy) was 72.6%. Mild adverse event rate was 7.2%. The rate of severe adverse events requiring additional intervention was 0.5% (pneumothorax, 0.4%; severe bleeding with patient death, 0.1%).Conclusion Lower airway endoscopy is critical for respiratory disease assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Flexible bronchoscopy is associated with good diagnostic yield and minimal inherent risk.

FBI according to the conscious sedation protocol with midazolam and fentanyl is effective and safe in the management of patients with difficult airway.

FBI according to the conscious sedation protocol with midazolam and fentanyl is effective and safe in the management of patients with difficult airway.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the use of pulmonary inhalation-perfusion scintigraphy as an alternative method of investigation and follow-up in patients with bronchopleural fistula (BPF).Materials and MethodsNine patients with BPFs were treated through the off-label use of a transcatheter atrial septal defect occluder, placed endoscopically, and were followed with pulmonary inhalation-perfusion scintigraphy, involving inhalation, via a nebulizer, of 900-1300 MBq (25-35 mCi) of technetium-99m-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and single-photon emission computed tomography with a dual-head gamma camera.ResultsIn two cases, there was a residual air leak that was not identified by bronchoscopy or the methylene blue test but was detected only by pulmonary inhalation-perfusion scintigraphy. Those results correlated with the evolution of the patients, both of whom showed late signs of air leak, which confirmed the scintigraphy findings. In the patients with complete resolution of symptoms and fistula closure seen on bronchoscopy, the scintigraphy was completely negative. In cases of failure to close the BPF, the scintigraphy confirmed the persistence of the air leak. In two patients, scintigraphy was the only method to show residual BPF, the fistula no longer being seen on bronchoscopy.ConclusionWe found pulmonary inhalation-perfusion scintigraphy to be a useful tool for identifying a residual BPF, as well as being an alternative method of investigating BPFs and of monitoring the affected patients.

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