[Fibro-bronchoscopy without general anesthesia in pediatric patients].

Flexible bronchofiberoscopy is at present an indispensable technique in pediatric pulmonology departments. The fact that it can be used outside of the operating theater without general anesthesia or additional oxygen has greatly increased its field of pediatric applications. Thirty-three fibrobronchioscopies were performed during a period of one year on a group of children under 14 years of age. The most common indications for the procedure were atelectasis (27.3%), recurrent pneumonia (15.1%) and a possible foreign body (15.1%). The most usual sedation (82%) was the combination of Diazepan with Ketamine. Sixteen patients did not require oxygen and only one suffered a serious complication. The benefit of this technique was shown since the treatment of 22 children (67%) was changed following this procedure.