title: Clinical experience of rigid bronchoscopy in single center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to analyze clinical situations requiring rigid bronchoscopy and evaluate usefulness of rigid bronchoscopic intervention in benign or malignant airway disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 29 patients who underwent rigid bronchoscopy from November 2007 to February 2011 at St. Paul's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 29 patients, the most frequent underlying etiology was benign stenosis of trachea (n=20). Of those 20 patients, 16 had post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS), 2 had tracheal stenosis due to inhalation burn (IBTS) and other 2 had obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP). Other etiologies were airway malignancy (n=6), endobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis (n=2), and foreign body (n=1). For treatment, silicone stent insertion was done in 16 cases of PITS and IBTS and mechanical removal was performed in 2 cases of OFTP. In 6 cases of malignant airway obstruction mechanical debulking was performed and silicone stents were inserted additionally in 2 cases. Balloon dilatation and electrocautery were used in 2 cases of endobronchial stenosis due to tuberculosis. In all cases of stent, airway obstructive symptom improved immediately. Granulation tissue formation was the most common complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tracheal stenosis was most common indication and silicone stenting was most common procedure of rigid bronchoscopy in our center. Rigid bronchoscopic procedures, at least tracheal silicone stenting, should be included in pulmonary medicine fellowship programs because it is a very effective and indispensable method to relieve critical airway obstruction which needs training to learn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sei Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyeon Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ju Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myung Sook
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeong Gyu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Chi Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwan Hyoung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hwa Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Kwang Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seok Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sang Haak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Airway Obstruction; Bronchoscopy; Pulmonary Medicine; Tracheal Stenosis