Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy in the Evaluation of Acute Chest and Upper Airway Trauma

Analysis of 208 flexible bronchoscopies performed in an intensive care unit

“…Nevertheless, this experience must be viewed with caution, since few cases have been described in the literature, and further studies are needed to evaluate such treatment and its efficacy. 33,34 Other indications comprised a case of alveolar proteinosis, vocal cord examination in a case of hanging, a case of drowning in sea water in which abundant algae and sand were aspirated through the bronchoscopy canal, a case of chest trauma in which bronchoscopy was used to explore bronchial tree injuries under direct visualization, 35,36 and a case of direct intubation guided by the bronchoscope through a tracheal prosthesis, in which intubation initially did not prove possible.…”

Análisis de 208 fibrobroncoscopias realizadas en una unidad de cuidados intensivos

“…No obstante esta experiencia ha de ser tomada con prudencia ya que son pocos casos los descritos en la literatura y son necesarios futuros estudios que evalúen este tratamiento y avalen su eficacia 33,34 . Otras indicaciones fueron un caso de proteinosis alveolar, revisión de las cuerdas vocales en un caso de ahorcamiento, un caso de ahogamiento en agua de mar en el que se aspiró a través del canal del broncoscopio abundante cantidad de algas y arena, un traumatismo torácico en el que se utilizó la broncoscopia para explorar lesiones del árbol bronquial bajo visión directa 35,36 y una intubación dirigida con el broncoscopio a través de una prótesis traqueal en la que no fue posible inicialmente intubarlo.…”

Diagnostics and Scoring in Blunt Chest Trauma

“…In a clinical study, bronchoscopy was of diagnostic use in 53% of the examined patients with severe multiple trauma. It was particularly useful regarding the diagnosis of damage to the tracheobronchial tree (tracheal and bronchial transections and lacerations), supraglottic injuries, aspiration, bleeding, and lung contusions [78]. The latter are diagnosed bronchoscopically by seeing the presence of petechial bleeding, submucous hemorrhage and swelling as well as intrabronchial hemorrhage [57].…”