Utility of Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Congenital Airway Malformations in Children

Bronchoscopy is an indispensable tool in the clinical evaluation and management of pediatric airway and lung disease. Common indications for pediatric bronchoscopy are varied and extend over a spectrum of congenital, infectious, structural conditions and diagnostic applications . Indications for flexible bronchoscopy in children include the evaluation of stridor, persistent or recurrent wheezing, chronic cough, hemoptysis, atelectasis, suspected airway foreign body, suspected airway anomaly, tracheoesophageal fistula, vascular ring and pneumonia/lower respiratory tract infection. Of note, congenital airway malformations are of specific clinical concern in children with the potential to present as an acute emergency. Airway malformations can cause recurrent wheezing, respiratory distress with, repeated pneumonia by poor drainage of lung segments or aspiration, and life-threatening airway obstruction. Flexible bronchoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis, evaluation and management of such congenital lung malformations.