Flexible bronchoscopy and interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatric large airway disease

OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate the benefits of a multidisciplinary pediatric airway team prepared to evaluate and treat otolaryngology patients with flexible bronchoscopy. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Tertiary, academic children's hospital. PATIENTS: 10 children (5 male, 5 female age range 2 months-16 years) presenting with complex symptoms potentially referable to large airways. INTERVENTION: Flexible bronchoscopy for diagnostic (bronchoalveolar lavage, ciliary biopsy, assess ongoing surgical intervention, and rule in or rule out foreign body; N=6) or therapeutic (evacuate bronchial mucus plug, laser subglottis when patient has fused cervical spine, and distal instillation fibrin glue for bronchopleural fistula and dornase alpha for plastic bronchitis]; N=4). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Retrospectively ask if flexible bronchoscopy and interdisciplinary management improved patient care in these select otolaryngology cases. RESULTS: 10/10 patients benefited from interdisciplinary management including flexible bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: Our experience illustrates many uses for flexible bronchoscopy in otolaryngology patients, and suggests that an airway team prepared to use flexible bronchoscopy will create opportunities for improved patient care.