title: Flexible bronchoscopy contribution in the approach of diagnosis and treatment of children's respiratory diseases: the experience of a unique pediatric unit in Tunisia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study aimed at assessing the role of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in improving diagnosis and management of children's respiratory conditions in the pediatric unit of FB, newly created and unique in Tunisia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study including all the FB achieved in our pediatric unit from 2009 to 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed 365 FB in 333 patients aged 46 months on average (1 month - 15 years), often under conscious anesthesia (81.6%). FB was performed for diagnostic purposes in 341 cases and for therapeutic purposes in 24 cases. Eight anatomical abnormalities were revealed in 22 patients. An intraluminal bronchial obstruction was found in 71 FB, mainly due to a foreign body (n=36). A vascular anomaly was responsible for nine cases out of 17 extraluminal obstructions. Airways malacia was observed in 60 FB. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 196 cases. It was determinant in 43.9% of the cases. FB was of great diagnostic value in 74.8% of the cases. It influenced the management of the patients in 58% of the cases. The FB for therapeutic purposes was beneficial in all cases. Few complications occurred (5.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FB is a safe tool providing precious diagnostic and/or therapeutic help for the clinician.
authors.affiliation: Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital of Tunis, Department B.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamouda
authors.affiliation: Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital of Tunis, Department B.
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oueslati
authors.affiliation: Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital of Tunis, Department B.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Belhadj
authors.affiliation: Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital of Tunis, Department B.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khalsi
authors.affiliation: Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital of Tunis, Department B.
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tinsa
authors.affiliation: Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital of Tunis, Department B.
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boussetta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D015619:Respiratory System Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Flexible bronchoscopy; bronchoalveolar lavage; child; foreign body aspiration; pulmonary alveolar proteinosis