[The therapeutic significance of bronchial suction-drainage in infants].

Bronchial suction-drainage in infants--according to our observations--is a life-saving procedure in cases of aspiration, severe bronchitis and retention of bronchial secretion. It can also be very effective in atelectasis, bronchopneumonia and pulmonary abscess. The earlier the drainage the quicker the clearing up of the atelectasis. An additional indication for performing bronchial suction in severe lower respiratory tract infections is to gagain secretion for bacterial culture. This is especially important in the Gram negative and Staphylococcus infections of young infants. The right upper pulmonary lobe is the most common localisation for atelectasis and pneumonia in this age group. One possible explanation for this could be that malformed bronchi are more frequently found in the right than in the left upper lobe. It is such a characteristical phenomenon in infancy that we called it "the right upper lobe syndrome".