Journal List > Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis > v.21(3) > 1033130

Ahn, Choi, Yun, Wang, Kwon, Hwang, Lee, and Jung: The Clinical Experience of Pediatric Flexible Bronchoscopy at a Single Institution

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.

Result

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.

References

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Table 1.
Age Distribution of 105 Patients
Age Male Female Total
<1 mo 3 0 3 (2.9)
1 mo-1 yr 4 4 8 (7.6)
1–3 (yr) 12 16 28 (26.7)
3–6 (yr) 5 8 13 (12.4)
6–9 (yr) 6 7 13 (12.4)
9–12 (yr) 11 5 16 (15.2)
12–15 (yr) 10 8 18 (17.1)
15–18 (yr) 2 4 6 (5.7)
Total 53 52 105 (100.0)

Values are presented as number or number (%).

Table 2.
Indications for Pediatric Bronchoscopy
Indication No. of Patients (%)
Pulmonary tuberculosis suspected 37 (35.2)
Chronic/recurrent infiltrate 14 (13.3)
Stridor 11 (10.5)
Foreign body aspiration suspected 11 (10.5)
Persistent atelectasis 11 (10.5)
Hemoptysis 5 (4.8)
Pulmonary tuberculosis follow-up 4 (3.8)
Abnormal airway radiograph 4 (3.8)
Chronic cough/sputum 3 (2.9)
Acute severe pneumonia 3 (2.9)
Persistent wheezing 1 (0.9)
Airway anomaly evaluation 1 (0.9)
Total 105 (100.0)
Table 3.
Bronchoscopic Findings of 105 Patients
Findings No. of Patients
Mucus plug/secretion 53
Normal airway 39
Mucosal erythema/whitish patch 28
Tracheomalacia 11
Laryngomalacia 8
Bleeding 8
Foreign body 6
Granulation tissue 6
Obstruction 5
Bronchomalacia 5
Narrowing 4
Vocal cord abnormality 2
Subglottic stenosis 2
Tracheal stenosis 2
Extrinsic compression 1
Table 4.
Bronchoscopic Findings of Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculous Suspected
Findings No. of Patients
Secretion/Mucus plug 17
Mucosal erythema 15
Normal 11
Tracheomalacia 6
Bronchomalacia 5
Bleeding tendency 5
Granulation tissue 1
Laryngomalacia 1
Table 5.
Bronchoscopic Findings of Patients with Chronic/Recurrent Infiltration
Findings No. of Patients
Secretion/mucus plug 12
Mucosal erythema/whitish patch 6
Narrowing 2
Normal 2
Bronchomalacia 1
Abnormal movement of vocal cord 1
Table 6.
Cultured Pathogens of Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Culture findings No. of Patients
Hemophilus influenza 3
Acinebacter calcoaceticus-baumannii 2
complex  
Streptococcus pneumoniae 1
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1
Klebsiella pneumoniae 1
Streptococcus dysgalactiae 1
Hafnia alvei 1
Candida 6
Aspergillus niger group 1
No growth 22
Table 7.
Complications during the Procedure
Findings No. of Patients (%)
Bleeding 4 (3.8)
Bronchospasm 2 (1.9)
Fever 1 (1.0)
O2 desaturation 1 (1.0)
Total 8 (7.7)
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