title: Rigid bronchoscopy and jet ventilation in an extremely low birthweight infant.
abstract: Until recently, rigid bronchoscopy was considered too risky for premature infants. We report a 658 g infant with life-threatening mediastinal shift due to right pulmonary atelectasis. Rigid bronchoscopy revealed tenacious mucous plugs in the right main bronchus. The collapsed lung was successfully reinflated after bronchial lavage with a rigid bronchoscope, with the help of intermittent high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV). The infant's mediastinal shift was reversed and the vital signs became stable. In our experience, rigid bronchoscopy combined with HFJV is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for very small premature infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, ROC.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Tsou Yau
mesh_terms: D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006611:High-Frequency Jet Ventilation; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*