Bronchoscopy in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

The origins of bronchoscopy date back to 1897 when Gustav Killian, considered “the father of bronchoscopy”, performed the first airway examination with a rigid esophagoscope to a farmer extracting a piece of bone that had lodged in the main stem bronchus. Shigeto Ikeda in 1964 revolutionized the field of bronchoscopy with the introduction of a flexible instrument that could be introduced to sub-segmental bronchi and allowed the extraction of samples for cytological examination. Endoscopy Machida Company Ltd and Olympus Optical Company Ltd in 1966 built the first prototype of a fiberoptic bronchoscope. Since its introduction in routine clinical practice in the decade of 60 has been improved, increasing its indications. 30 years ago, rigid bronchoscope was the main instrument for the direct examination of the tracheobronchial tree; and even today is considered the choice procedure in two emergencies, haemoptysis and removal of foreign bodies.