RIGID BRONCHOSCOPY AND JET VENTILATION IN AN EXTREMELY LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANT

Until recently, rigid bronchoscopy was considered too risky for premat ure infants. We report a 658 g infant with life-threatening mediastina l shift due to light pulmonary atelectasis. Rigid bronchoscopy reveale d tenacious mucous plugs in the right main bronchus. The collapsed lun g was successfully reinflated after bronchial lavage with a rigid bron choscope, with the help of intermittent high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV). The infant's mediastinal shift was reversed and the vital sig ns became stable. In our experience, rigid bronchoscopy combined with HFJV is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for very small premature infants.