Endotracheal intubation with the fibre-optic bronchoscope.

Tracheal intubation with the aid of the fibre-optic bronchoscope was compared to conventional and alternative methods in 41 consecutive patients suffering from advanced rheumatoid arthritis. All patients were scheduled for anterior and/or posterior cervical fusion. It was shown that the use of the fibre-optic bronchoscope significantly diminished the number of complicated intubations and reduced the intubation trauma considerably. The occurrence of postoperative upper airway oedema was significantly related to the extent of the intubation trauma. Tracheal intubation with the fibre-optic bronchoscope is considered useful in adult patients when intubation is expected to be difficult or dangerous and when orthodox intubation is found to be very difficult.