Outcome of pediatric non resolving pneumonias with the aid of pediatric flexible bronchoscopy

Background: Studies are required to establish the utility and safety of use of the procedure of the flexible bronchoscopy under various circumstances and the various settings. Aim: To study outcome of pediatric non resolving pneumonias with the aid of pediatric flexible bronchoscopy Material and Methods: Present study was hospital based prospective study. We selected 100 cases in 1 year to 8 years age group, with radiological features persisting after 3 weeks of optimal antibiotics, their sputum for AFB, and gastric lavage for AFB was negative, sputum culture was sterile. We did pediatric flexible bronchoscopy (Olympus BF3C30, outer diameter of 3.2 mm), under short general anesthesia. All the procedures were uneventful, no reported morbidity or mortality after the procedure, Followed after the procedure till radiological shadows disappear. Results: The most common finding of the flexible bronchoscopy was normal airway anatomy – with thick mucopurulent secretions was found in 55% of the cases. In the normal airway anatomy – with thick mucopurulent secretions, 20 showed TB gene positive. In the normal airway anatomy with thick mucus plug obstructing total lumen of affected air way was sterile in all 18 cases. Foreign body impacted in bronchus in 12 cases. Mediastinal lymph node compressing main stem bronchus was identified in 6 cases. Conclusion: Paediatric flexible bronchoscopy is very useful investigation in non-resolving pneumonias.