Rigid Bronchoscopy
Rigid bronchoscopy has established its place in therapeutic management of central airway obstruction for well over a century. The advantages of rigid bronchoscopy include establishing a secure airway and maintaining optimal ventilation while providing a conduit to allow the passage of a variety of adjunct tools into the airways. It is performed under general anesthesia with conventional or jet ventilation. The complications are rare but life-threatening, and can be avoided by a thorough preoperative assessment of the patient, procedural planning, and communication with the anesthesiologist. Dedicated training fellowships, simulation, and performance-based competency evaluation are critical for safe and effective widespread adoption of rigid bronchoscopy.
