Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy with general anesthesia in the poor-risk patient.

A study is presented of seven poor-risk patients who had bronchoscopy with a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope and balanced general anesthesia. The cardiorespiratory status, as evidenced by arterial blood gas determinations, electrocardiographic findings, and blood pressure measurements, was improved and stabilized in all patients. Flexible fibeoptic bronchoscopy, combined with general anesthesia, has proved to be a reliable and safe procedure useful for both diagnosis and treatment in poor-risk patients.