APPLICATION OF ELECTRONIC BRONCHOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF RESPIRATORY TRACT MALFORMATION IN INFANTS

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of electronic bronchoscopy in infants with respiratory tract malformation(RTM).Methods The data including clinical menifestations,electronic bronchoscopic fidings and imageology in 78 infants with RTM were analyzed retrospectively.Results The bronchoscopic findings in the 78 infands were as follows: unilateral choanal stenosis(3 cases),congenital laryngomalacia(22),congenital laryngeal cyst(2),laryngeal web(1),tracheobronchomalacia(27),tracheobronchial stenosis(15),tracheal bronchus(3),tracheal diverticulum(1),bridging bronchus(1),tracheo-esophageal fistula(1),and complex malformation(2).Chest radiography showed pneumonia or bronchitis.Chest CT demonstrated that four had the signs of tracheal or bronchial stenosis,one had abnormal origin of bronchus.The three-dimensional airway reconstruction found eight with tracheobronchial stenosis,two with abnormal origin of bronchus,and one with tracheal diverticulum.Conclusion Electronic bronchoscopy has a significant value in the diagnosis of RTM in infants.