Bronchoscopies in pediatric patients – single centre study

Introduction Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the trachea and major bronchi. Indications for bronchoscopy can be categorized into clinical, radiological, and therapeutic. These include airway compression, recurrent and complex pneumonia, foreign body aspiration (FBA), interstitial lung disease, endoscopic intubation, caustic ingestion, and bronchiectasis. Bronchoscopy is generally regarded as a safe procedure, with major complications being rare. Aim Determine frequency of complications and safeness of bronchoscopies among pediatric patients. Material and methods This retrospective analytical study reviewed data from patients referred for bronchoscopy at the Pediatric Departments of the Medical University of Silesia between January 2017 and June 2023. Over a 6-year period, 71 bronchoscopies were performed on 61 patients, ranging in age from 8 days to nearly 17 years (mean age: 2.24 years). The cohort included 24 girls and 37 boys; 6 children (3 boys and 3 girls) had more than 1 bronchoscopy. The study aimed to characterize the procedure and the patient population undergoing rigid bronchoscopy. Results and discussion The most common symptom prompting bronchoscopy was a cough, reported by 27 patients (38%). Foreign bodies were identified in 17 procedures (24%), with peanuts being the most frequent form of foreign body (13 cases, 76%). The average duration of the procedure was 18 minutes. Complications were observed in 5 bronchoscopies (7%). Conclusions Bronchoscopy is a safe procedure in the pediatric population. In cases of ambiguous symptoms, FBA should be ruled out. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia remains the preferred technique for managing FBA in pediatric patients.