[Endoscopic bronchial exploration under local anesthesia in children].

One hundred and forty-two flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopies were carried out in 1 year, under local anaesthesia, in 123 children aged between 15 days and 17 years. Indications were tuberculosis (n = 26), persistent pneumonia (n = 20), suspected foreign body or control after extraction (n = 18), asthma (n = 17), atelectasis (n = 14), recurrent pneumonia (n = 13), opportunistic pneumonia (n = 11), permanent bronchial obstruction (n = 10), miscellaneous disease (n = 13). Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was abnormal in 101 patients (80%) and led to a change in the treatment in 84 cases (68%). True complications (n = 5) were all transient and were followed by complete recovery. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy under local anaesthesia is a simple and safe procedure. It is an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of pediatric respiratory disorders.