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The Flexible Fiberscope in Bronchoscopic Perspective

1973; Elsevier BV; Volume: 64; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1378/chest.64.2.149

1931-3543

Gabriel F. Tucker, Arthur M. Olsen, Albert H. Andrews, John L. Pool,

Airway Management and Intubation Techniques

The introduction of the flexible fiberbronchoscope by Ikeda in 1968 provided the endoscopist with a new and valuable aid in the diagnosis of lesions of the trachea and bronchi. The relative ease with which the instrument can be passed into the bronchial tree has led to an almost unbridled enthusiasm for the new instrument and has encouraged its use by many individuals not adequately trained in bronchoesophagology. It has been suggested that the new bronchofiberscope will replace the conventional rigid instrument except possibly for the retrieval of foreign bodies. The extent to which this enthusiasm has progressed is reflected in the number of papers that have appeared in this journal dealing with this new modality. In fact, recent editorials have not only suggested the fiberscope is the primary instrument for bronchoscopy, but the enthusiastic proponents of the new technique argue as to whether the instrument is best inserted through the nose or through the mouth. The article in this issue of Chest by Smiddy and Elliott (see page 158), which suggests that massive hemoptysis can be best evaluated with the fiberscope, has prompted this communication from the undersigned. It seems to us that it is time to put fiberbronchoscopy in its proper perspective.