Combination of adult and pediatric fiberoptic bronchoscopy in bronchial cleaning in smoke inhalation-induced respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

n the practice of medicine, new technologies are developed and old models are improved upon. As new technologies are integrated into standard practices, further innovation occurs to meet situational demands when patients have critical needs; what follows illustrates such an adaptation using modern bronchoscopic instruments.

Smoke inhalation-induced respiratory distress has been known to cause high mortality among victims of À re accidents, especially for those who have been trapped inside burning buildings. In the aftermath of a À re accident, several victims died as a result of smoke inhalation-induced respiratory distress. We have effectively saved À re victims by scrubbing their bronchial airways using a À beroptic bronchoscope to improve ventilation and oxygenation.

However, with a standard-sized bronchoscope it is not possible to reach smaller bronchi, so we combined the use of a pediatric bronchoscopy to the procedure in order to better clean the debris and secretions.