title: Role of bronchoscopy in modern medical intensive care unit.
abstract: This article gives a broad overview of the increasingly important applications of bronchoscopy, flexible (FOB) and rigid (RB), in a modern medical intensive care unit. Special emphasis is made to bronchoscopy use in mechanically ventilated patients. Therapies such as endobronchial stenting and Nd:YAG laser are being used to improve respiratory failure and facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. Practical applications of recent advancements in technology (endobronchial stenting, laser therapy, and so forth), the increasing use of rigid bronchoscopy, and the new generation of flexible bronchoscopes like battery bronchoscopes, and ultra-thin bronchoscopes, are also discussed. The risks, potential benefits, complications, and suggested technique of performing bronchoscopy in mechanically ventilated patients are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Pulmonary Unit, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, New York, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raoof
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehrishi
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Prakash
mesh_terms: D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003422:Critical Care; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D015607:Stents