Airway fire during rigid bronchoscopy

Abstract

We describe a case of a 69-yr-old male who developed an airway fire during elective bronchoscopy for re-canalisation of an obstructed bronchial stent. Airway fires are a rare but potentially life threatening complication of surgery in the respiratory tract. We are not aware of any previous reports of an airway fire secondary to ignition of a flexible bronchoscope.