Therapeutic bronchoscopy.

Abstract

Endoscopic therapy has been used extensively in every field of medicine. The bronchial tree is no exception. The rigid bronchoscope was mainly used for foreign body extraction and hemostasis from and in the bronchial tree. With the evolution of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope, the scope of therapeutic bronchoscopy has widened. The principles of therapeutic bronchoscopy, the various indications and brief description of such procedures like laser-bronchoscopy, endo-bronchial brachytherapy, management of airway strictures, its role in management of hemoptysis and foreign body removal have been reviewed.