Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2011 Sep;21(3):226-233.

The Clinical Experience of Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy at a Single Institution

• Ahn HS
• Choi EJ
• Yun HJ
• Wang SW
• Kwon EY
• Hwang KG
• Lee YS
• Jung JA

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to investigate the indications, bronchoscopic findings, results of bronchoalveolar lavage, and complications and to report the clinical features of using flexible bronchoscopy for respiratory diseases in children.
METHODS
We studied 105 patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy at the Department of Pediatrics, Dong-A University Medical Center from June 2001 to June 2008. A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed if need, and the BAL fluid was cultured for bacteria and fungi. We performed an acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture.
RESULTS
The most common indication for flexible bronchoscopy was suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (37 cases, 35.2%). The most common abnormal finding was excessive secretion, which was found in 53 cases (50.4%). BAL bacterial cultures were performed in 10 of 38 cases, and Hemophilus influenza was the most common organism and was found in three cases (7.8%). There were 17 AFB culture-positive cases (49.3%) among the 37 suspected pulmonary tuberculosis cases. Among these 17, the Tb-polymerase chain reaction (Tb-PCR) was conducted for four cases (23.5%) but only two cases (50%) were positive. TB-specific antigen-induced interferon-gamma was performed in four cases (23.5%), and all four cases (100%) were positive.
CONCLUSION
Pediatric flexible bronchoscopy has made it possible to vary the indication and subjects. It was also safe and effective if used carefully. Further study should be conducted to develop safe and useful technology to overcome the limitations.

Keyword

Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy; Bronchoalveolar Lavage

MeSH Terms

Academic Medical Centers
Bacteria
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Bronchoscopy
Fungi
Haemophilus
Humans
Influenza, Human
Interferon-gamma
Pediatrics
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
Interferon-gamma

Reference

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