Pediatric Bronchoscopy Research Articles

Anesthesia management in pediatric bronchoscopy

Aims: The primary aim of this retrospective study is to analyze pediatric bronchoscopy cases performed under general anesthesia, evaluating the indications, findings, and adverse events. Methods: The study included a total of 31 pediatric patients who underwent rigid and flexible bronchoscopy under general anesthesia at Bozok University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between July 1, 2018, and May 1, 2024. Demographic data, types of anesthesia, anesthetic agents, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Anesthesia management and surgical processes were described in detail. Results: The study found that an increased duration of bronchoscopy was associated with a higher likelihood of laryngospasm and bronchospasm (p=0.049). Additionally, in line with the literature, the average age of patients included in our study who underwent bronchoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes was determined to be 33 months. The incidence of laryngospasm and bronchospasm was found to be 16.1%, which is consistent with other studies in the literature. Conclusion: Our study indicates that foreign body aspiration occurs most commonly in male children under three years of age and that prolonged bronchoscopy durations increase the risk of laryngospasm and bronchospasm.

Anaesthetic challenges of carinal resection and reconstruction: A case report.

Carinal resection of tumour involving trachea and carina remains as a challenge for thoracic surgeons and anaesthesiologists. Resection is technically demanding and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this case report, we describe the successful management of carinal tumour with carinal resection in a 45-year-old female. The tumour was involving lowermost trachea, carina and bilateral primary bronchi causing 60% narrowing of the lower trachea just before carina, more than 90% narrowing of right main bronchus and 50% luminal narrowing of left main bronchus. Carinal resection and reconstruction were successfully performed under general anaesthesia. Patient was managed with conventional orotracheal intubation with Micro laryngeal endotracheal tube and positioned in left principal bronchus railroaded over a paediatric bronchoscope for lung isolation. After thoracotomy, the left main bronchus was intubated directly across the operative field with a sterile flexometallic endotracheal tube. With intermittent ventilation, anastomosis was completed. During anastomosis Micro laryngeal endotracheal tube cuff was damaged twice and we had to reintubate the patient twice in lateral position itself. At the end of anastomoses, flexometallic tube was removed and wound repaired. After confirming no leakage at anastomotic site, Micro laryngeal endotracheal tube was removed and Laryngeal Mask Airway was inserted and bronchial toileting done with adult bronchoscope. Meticulous planning and communication between the anaesthesia and surgical teams are mandatory for the safe and successful anaesthetic management of carinal resection surgeries.

Enhanced object detection in pediatric bronchoscopy images using YOLO-based algorithms with CBAM attention mechanism

Background and ObjectiveBronchoscopy is a widely used diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for respiratory disorders such as infections and tumors. However, visualizing the bronchial tubes and lungs can be challenging due to the presence of various objects, such as mucus, blood, and foreign bodies. Accurately identifying the anatomical location of the bronchi can be quite challenging, especially for medical professionals who are new to the field. Deep learning-based object detection algorithms can assist doctors in analyzing images or videos of the bronchial tubes to identify key features such as the epiglottis, vocal cord, and right basal bronchus. This study aims to improve the accuracy of object detection in bronchoscopy images by integrating a YOLO-based algorithm with a CBAM attention mechanism. MethodsThe CBAM attention module is implemented in the YOLO-V7 and YOLO-V8 object detection models to improve their object identification and classification capabilities in bronchoscopy images. Various YOLO-based object detection algorithms, such as YOLO-V5, YOLO-V7, and YOLO-V8 are compared on this dataset. Experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method and different algorithms. ResultsThe proposed method significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of object detection for bronchoscopy images. This approach demonstrates the potential benefits of incorporating an attention mechanism in medical imaging and the benefits of utilizing object detection algorithms in bronchoscopy. In the experiments, the YOLO-V8-based model achieved a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 87.09% on the given dataset with an Intersection over Union (IoU) threshold of 0.5. After incorporating the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) into the YOLO-V8 architecture, the proposed method achieved a significantly enhanced mAP0.5 and mAP0.5:0.95 of 88.27% and 55.39%, respectively. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that by incorporating a CBAM attention mechanism with a YOLO-based algorithm, there is a noticeable improvement in object detection performance in bronchoscopy images. This study provides valuable insights into enhancing the performance of attention mechanisms for object detection in medical imaging.

Flexible bronchoscopy in pediatric lung transplantation.

Pediatric lung transplantation represents a treatment option for children with advanced lung disease or pulmonary vascular disorders who are deemed an appropriate candidate. Pediatric flexible bronchoscopy is an important and evolving field that is highly relevant in the pediatric lung transplant population. It is thus important to advance our knowledge to better understand how care for children after lung transplant can be maximally optimized using pediatric bronchoscopy. Our goals are to continually improve procedural skills when performing bronchoscopy and to decrease the complication rate while acquiring adequate samples for diagnostic evaluation. Attainment of these goals is critical since allograft assessment by bronchoscopic biopsy is required for histological diagnosis of acute cellular rejection and is an important contributor to establishing chronic lung allograft dysfunction, a common complication after lung transplant. Flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy plays a key role in lung transplant graft assessment. In this article, we discuss the application of bronchoscopy in pediatric lung transplant evaluation including historical approaches, our experience, and future directions not only in bronchoscopy but also in the evolving pediatric lung transplantation field. Pediatric flexible bronchoscopy has become a vital modality for diagnosing lung transplant complications in children as well as assessing therapeutic responses. Herein, we review the value of flexible bronchoscopy in the management of children after lung transplant and discuss the application of novel techniques to improve care for this complex pediatric patient population and we provide a brief update about new diagnostic techniques applied in the growing lung transplantation field.

Bailout in a resource-limited emergency pediatric bronchoscopy setting.

Bailout in a resource-limited emergency pediatric bronchoscopy setting.

Use of an adapted bronchoscope for peroral endoscopic myotomy in a pediatric patient weighing less than 10 kg

Video 1Customization of pediatric bronchoscope and peroral endoscopic myotomy settings.

Indications, Efficacy, and Complications of Pediatric Bronchoscopy: A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Center.

Background Bronchoscopy is an essential procedure for evaluating, diagnosing, and treating pediatric respiratory diseases. In this study, we demonstrate the indications and contraindications of bronchoscopy done in a tertiary referral hospital, Al Qassimi Woman's and Children's Hospital (AQWCH) in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in order to achieve better service. This study aims to evaluate patients' characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic indications, and complications of bronchoscopy. Material and method This retrospective chart review included children aged between one day and 13 years, admitted to AQWCH, who underwent bronchoscopy (rigid or flexible) procedures between January 2018 and December 2019. All patients were identified by using a computerized search of hospital discharge diagnosis, which was codified as "pediatric bronchoscopy, flexible, rigid, bronchoalveolar lavage". The main study outcome measure was to evaluate patients' characteristics, diagnostic or therapeutic indications, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis, as well as complications of bronchoscopy at AQWCH. Results There were 72 pediatric bronchoscopies (rigid and flexible) performed in patients aged less than 13 years old; the reason for bronchoscopy procedure was diagnostic in 51% and both diagnostic and therapeutic in 49%. Cough was the most common symptom (n=53; 74%), and chest recession was the most common clinical finding (n=46; 64%). Foreign body aspiration was the main indication (n=23; 32%), followed by stridor (26%). Consolidation was the most common radiological finding. Foreign body was the common finding, seen in 25% of bronchoscopies, followed by tracheomalacia in 17%. The suspected diagnosis was confirmed in 89%, and management change was needed in 54% of patients. The main complication during the procedure was desaturation (26%), and cough was the main post-bronchoscopy complication (14%). BAL was done for 28 (39%) patients, in which BAL culture was positive in 75%.Rigid bronchoscopy was done when foreign body aspiration was suspected based on positive history in 70%, abnormal physical examination in 60%, and chest X-ray abnormalities in 39% of patients. Sensitivity and specificity for patient history, physical examination, and chest X-ray were 80% and 83%, 66% and 60%, and 40% and 66 %, respectively. Conclusion Bronchoscopy is an important tool for evaluating, diagnosing, and treating pediatric respiratory diseases. While it is a safe procedure, it still needs a careful selection of patients as it is invasive.

Foreign Body Aspiration in Children and Emergency Rigid Bronchoscopy: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Foreign body aspiration is potentially life-threatening in paediatric age group. Early recognition and emergency intervention by Rigid bronchoscopy is life-saving. To highlight various difficulties in emergency paediatric bronchoscopy and discuss our experience in 138 patients. < 12years children with suspected foreign body aspiration were included. Data of 138 patients < 12years of age were studied. The most common foreign body found was peanut and organic foreign bodies constituted of total foreign bodies removed. Choking, Cough and sudden onset breathlessness were common symptoms. Tachypnoea, asymmetric breath sound, rhonchi, stridor, reduced chest movements were common signs. Obstructive emphysema was commonest radiological findings. Majority of the patients were discharged within 72h & only two patients expired. History, clinical and radiological findings are highly indicative of foreign body in the airway. Inspite of being a high risk procedure, Rigid bronchoscopy when performed with necessary expertise,trained anaesthesia team and a paediatric ICU, saves majority of lives of children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies.

A single-arm prospective interventional study to assess the efficacy of continuous bronchial cuff pressure monitoring to detect the displacement of lung isolation devices in elective thoracic surgeries.

During proximal or distal migration of lung isolation device (LID), the bronchial cuff would move into a wider or narrower portion of the bronchus, leading to a decrease or increase in the cuff pressure, respectively. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a study to find out the efficacy of continuous bronchial cuff pressure (BCP) monitoring for detecting the displacement of LID. A single-arm interventional study was conducted including hundred adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgeries using a left-sided LID. BCP was monitored in a continuous manner using a pressure transducer connected to the bronchial cuff of the LID. The position of the LID was assessed using a paediatric bronchoscope. Changes in the BCP were noted when the LID was moved intentionally in the left main bronchus (part 1) and during the surgery (part 2). Bronchoscopic confirmation was performed at the end of the surgery to note any uncaptured movement of the LID (part 3). During part 1 of the study, BCP consistently decreased on the proximal movement and increased on the distal movement of the LID, although the magnitude of change was not constant. During part 2 of the study, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of continuous BCP monitoring to detect the dislodgement of LIDs (n = 41) during the surgery were 97.6%, 40%, 76.9%, 88.9% and 78.7%, respectively. Continuous BCP monitoring is a useful and sensitive method for monitoring the position of left-sided LIDs in limited-resource settings.

A survey of pediatric flexible bronchoscopy in India.

A bronchoscopy is an essential tool in pediatric pulmonology. However, the practices involved in the procedure are variable. To evaluate prevalent practices and variations in pediatric flexible bronchoscopy in India. An online survey was conducted via Google forms between September 2018 and March 2019. We circulated the survey among members of various respiratory societies and personal contacts. Physicians performing pediatric flexible bronchoscopy were requested to respond. The survey had 95 questions in seven domains: demographics, patient preparation, sedation, procedural aspects, monitoring, bronchoscope cleaning, and complications. The survey received 24 complete responses; the respondents were from 14 cities. Pediatric bronchoscopy was done mainly for diagnostic purposes. Most (19, 79%) respondents reported using conscious sedation for the procedure. The preferred regimen for sedation was midazolam plus fentanyl [9 (37.5%)]. Atropine was used routinely by 4 (16%). For topical anesthesia, nebulized lignocaine only, both nebulized and spray as go lignocaine, and spray as go lignocaine only were used by 1 (4.2%), 6 (25%), and 17 (71%) respondents, respectively. The methods of providing oxygen during bronchoscopy were free flow (9, 37.5%), nasal prongs (8, 33.3%), mask (6, 25%), and laryngeal mask airway (1, 4.2%). The common therapeutic procedures included removal of mucus plugs (17, 71%), bronchoscopic intubation (11, 45%), and foreign body removal (10, 41%). The number of aliquots used by respondents for bronchoalveolar lavage varied from 2 to 6, and the volume for each aliquot was also varied (1-2 ml/kg or 5-10 ml). Almost all the respondents reported complication rates of less than 5%. There is a considerable variation in pediatric flexible bronchoscopy practices across the country, highlighting the need to develop a uniform guideline.

PH Roundtable: Tailoring CTEPH Imaging for Evaluation and Postintervention Assessment—What Works and What’s New?

PH Roundtable: Tailoring CTEPH Imaging for Evaluation and Postintervention Assessment—What Works and What’s New?

Management of Inedible Airway Foreign Bodies in Pediatric Rigid Bronchoscopy: Experience From a National Children's Regional Medical Center in China.

The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of inedible airway foreign bodies in pediatric rigid bronchoscopy to facilitate the improvement of management and technology. This retrospective analytical study was performed from January 2017 to June 2020. All admissions of pediatric patients (age<18 years) with foreign-body aspiration diagnosis codes ([ICD]-10:T17 300, T17 400, T17 500 and T17 900) and procedure codes (33.7801) were extracted. Age, sex, preoperative history and imaging data, surgical records, length of hospital stay, reoperations and postoperative complications were included. Data were analyzed with SPSS 20. A total of 1237 patients were hospitalized and underwent rigid bronchoscopy. Forty-five (3.6%) patients with inedible foreign bodies in the airway were confirmed. There were no significant differences in sex, time of onset and length of hospital stay between the inedible and edible foreign body groups, except for age and a definite history of foreign body aspiration (P = 0.000). Coughing, wheezing and fever were the common clinical symptoms in all patients. The following were the common locations of inedible foreign bodies: right bronchus (22/45), left bronchus (18/45), trachea (3/45) and larynx (2/45). The most frequent inedible foreign bodies were parts of a pen (15/45), a light-emitting diode (7/45) and plastic parts of toys (6/45). Vocal cord injury and a laryngeal web were observed in one case each.ConclusionRigid bronchoscopy is the method of choice for the removal of inedible foreign bodies. Adequate preoperative assessment to rely on CT scans, skillful operation techniques to avoid damaging and active management of postoperative complications are important for the success of the procedure.

Features of Technical Problems in Pediatric Rigid Bronchoscopy

Aim: Foreign body aspiration in the respiratory tract in children is a vital problem treated with rigid bronchoscopy (RB). In our study, technical problems and solutions of problems detected during RB were evaluated. Methods: Between August 2019-March 2021, 42 cases, which are operated due to foreign body aspiration, are analyzed in terms of age, gender, nature, and location of foreign body, complications, and technical problems. Results: 42 child patients (20 girls, 22 boys) were admitted to our clinic due to foreign body aspiration the respiratory tract ranged in average age from 1-16 years (average 4.6). Three of the foreign bodies were removed from the right main bronchi, 7 from the left main bronchi, and 4 from the trachea. Thirty-six were organic and 6 were inorganic. Human error was detected in 8 cases, instrument error in 27 cases, device error in 4 cases, and multiple errors in 3 cases. Conclusion: In attempts where tools and devices are used extensively, there are undesirable events and complications due to errors. We believe that analyzing error reports to reduce them is preventative

Anesthesia for pediatric rigid bronchoscopy and related airway surgery: Tips and tricks.

Bronchoscopy-guided diagnostic and interventional airway procedures are gaining in popularity and prominence in pediatric surgery. Many of these procedures have been used successfully in the adult population but have not been used in children due to a lack of appropriately sized instruments. Recent technological advances have led to the creation of instruments to enable many more diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be done under bronchoscopic guidance. These procedures vary significantly in their length and invasiveness and require vastly different anesthetic plans that must be easily adapted to situational and procedural changes. In addition to close communication between the anesthesiology and procedural teams; an understanding of the type of procedure, anesthetic requirements, and potential patient risks is paramount to a successful anesthetic. This review will focus on new rigid bronchoscopic procedures, goals for their respective anesthetic management, and unique tips and trick for how to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation in each scenario.

Comparison of Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy and Natural Sleep Endoscopy in the Assessment of Upper Airway Pathophysiology During Sleep: Protocol and Study Design.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized as a complex and heterogenous disorder. As a result, a “one-size-fits-all” management approach should be avoided. Therefore, evaluation of pathophysiological endotyping in OSA patients is emphasized, with upper airway collapse during sleep as one of the main features. To assess the site(s) and pattern(s) of upper airway collapse, natural sleep endoscopy (NSE) is defined as the gold standard. As NSE is labor-intensive and time-consuming, it is not feasible in routine practice. Instead, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is the most frequently used technique and can be considered as the clinical standard. Flow shape and snoring analysis are non-invasive measurement techniques, yet are still evolving. Although DISE is used as the clinical alternative to assess upper airway collapse, associations between DISE and NSE observations, and associated flow and snoring signals, have not been quantified satisfactorily. In the current project we aim to compare upper airway collapse identified in patients with OSA using endoscopic techniques as well as flow shape analysis and analysis of tracheal snoring sounds between natural and drug-induced sleep.Methods: This study is a blinded prospective comparative multicenter cohort study. The study population will consist of adult patients with a recent diagnosis of OSA. Eligible patients will undergo a polysomnography (PSG) with NSE overnight and a DISE within 3 months. During DISE the upper airway is assessed under sedation by an experienced ear, nose, throat (ENT) surgeon using a flexible fiberoptic endoscope in the operating theater. In contrast to DISE, NSE is performed during natural sleep using a pediatric bronchoscope. During research DISE and NSE, the standard set-up is expanded with additional PSG measurements, including gold standard flow and analysis of tracheal snoring sounds.Conclusions: This project will be one of the first studies to formally compare collapse patterns during natural and drug-induced sleep. Moreover, this will be, to the authors' best knowledge, the first comparative research in airflow shape and tracheal snoring sounds analysis between DISE and NSE. These novel and non-invasive diagnostic methods studying upper airway mechanics during sleep will be simultaneously validated against DISE and NSE.Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04729478.

Clinical application of transbronchial cryotherapy in the diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial tuberculosis in children

Objective: To explore the clinical utility of bronchoscopy and transbronchial cryotherapy in children with tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB). Methods: Retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical data of 10 hospitalized children who underwent bronchoscopy and were diagnosed as TBTB and in the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital and the Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2011 to October 2019. The clinical characteristics of TBTB in children, and the efficacy and safety of bronchoscopy and transbronchial cryotherapy were summarized through descriptive analysis. Results: The onset age of 10 children (6 males and 4 females) ranged from 1-14 years. The clinical manifestations included fever (8/10), cough (7/10) and hemoptysis (2/10). Purified protein derivative test and interferon-γ release assay were performed in 9 and 10 patients respectively, the results were all positive. Chest CT examination was performed in all patients, and 8 patients had hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. All patients underwent pediatric bronchoscopy in time, in 9 patients bronchus was found to be blocked in varying degrees by granulation tissue and caseous necrosis and in the remaining patient, obvious congestion and edema in bronchial mucosa. The bronchoscopic manifestations included 8 cases of lymph node fistula type, 1 case of granulation proliferative type and 1 case of inflammatory infiltration type. Pathological biopsies were performed in 7 cases, the findings were consistent with the pathological characteristics of tuberculosis. Nine patients were treated by pediatric bronchoscopic intervention, with 8 transbronchial cryotherapy by flexible bronchoscopy, and among them, 2 patients were treated by simultaneous rigid bronchoscopy. After 1-3 times of transbronchial cryotherapy, the blocked bronchial lumina in 8 cases were all recanalized, and the curative effect was significant without any serious complications. Conclusions: Bronchoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis of TBTB in children and is helpful for its classification. Also, transbronchial cryotherapy has good efficacy and safety for TBTB in children, especially for the granuloproliferative type or lymph node fistula type.

Complicated Paediatric Bronchial Foreign Body: A Novel Extraction Technique

A paediatric bronchoscopy procedure for foreign body inhalation is indeed a highly challenging procedure due to multiple risk factors such as lower physiological functional residual capacity and adverse pulmonary function effects by anaesthetic agents in addition to concurrent active lungs infection. Here we elucidate a novel technique of foreign body removal located at the distal airway in a paediatric patient and in a situation where a paediatric flexible bronchoscopy with built-in working channel is not available. A 1-year 7-months-old boy presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome following a one-week history of active respiratory infection. On examination, he was tachypnoeic with audible soft inspiratory stridor and intermittent barking cough despite being supplemented with 3 liters /minute oxygen mask. Chest x-ray showed right upper lobe collapse. He was referred to the otorhinolaryngology team after a suspicious history of foreign body aspiration obtained from his mother. Bedside flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy showed granulation tissue at the junction of laryngeal surface of epiglottis and anterior commissure. He underwent emergency direct laryngoscopy, tracheoscopy, bronchoscopy, excision of granulation tissue and removal of foreign body under general anaesthesia. Herein, some of complicated bronchoscopy demand critical thinking of alternative or modified techniques to achieve a successful and safe surgery. Bangladesh J Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 27(2): 177-183

The use of pediatric flexible bronchoscopy in the COVID-19 pandemic era.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic because of a novel coronavirus, called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). In January 2020, the first transmission to healthcare workers (HCWs) was described. SARS‐CoV‐2 is transmitted between people because of contact, droplets, and airborne. Airborne transmission is caused by aerosols that remain infectious when suspended in air over long distances and time. In the clinical setting, airborne transmission may occur during aerosol generating procedures like flexible bronchoscopy. To date, although the role of children in the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 is not clear the execution of bronchoscopy is associated with a considerably increased risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission to HCWs. The aim of this overview is to summarize available recommendations and to apply them to pediatric bronchoscopy. We performed systematic literature searches using the MEDLINE (accessed via PubMed) and Scopus databases. We reviewed major recommendations and position statements published at the moment by the American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, WHO, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and expert groups on the management of patients with COVID‐19 to limit transmission among HCWs. To date there is a lack of recommendations for safe bronchoscopy during the pandemic period. The main indications concern adults and little has been said about children. We have summarized available recommendations and we have applied them to pediatric bronchoscopy.

Pediatric flexible airway endoscopy training during a pandemic and beyond: Bending the curve.

Flexible airway endoscopy, for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, is a vital aspect of pediatric pulmonology practice, and has become an integral aspect of formal training in pediatric pulmonology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Foreign bodies’ inhalation, 38-year-experience Past, present and future

Four decades of personal experience in dealing with the inhaled foreign body (FB)&#x0D; Ways of presentations.&#x0D; Methods of diagnosis.&#x0D; Methods used for the successful removal the FBs using the rigid paediatric bronchoscope will be elucidated. &#x0D; The changing patterns of the types of FB during these years will be emphasized.&#x0D; Majority of these incidents of inhaled FBs are preventable.