Therapeutic bronchoscopy in ventilated neonates.

In the past bronchial endoscopy needed rigid hollow bronchoscopes and until recently the technique was rarely used by paediatricians. Thin and ultrathin fibreoptic flexible bronchoscopes (FFBs) are now available and endoscopy is likely to be increasingly used. Despite the expected exponential expansion of endoscopies using FFB at any age for a growing number of indications, some conditions will continue to need rigid bronchoscopy.