Anaesthesia and therapeutic bronchoscopy

Interventional rigid bronchoscopy requires the same careful anesthetic mana gement as any type of surgery. Furthermore, access to airways for both endo scopist and anaesthetist raises difficult problems. Hypoventilation with it s consequences is a major risk, especially for patients with impaired venti latory capacity. General anesthesia warrants controlled or assisted mechani cal ventilation, without precise spirometric monitoring because of air leak age. Discussion of indications between both operators is needed. Careful pr eoperative evaluation is required. Ultra short intravenous anesthetic agent s are chosen for a rapid recovery of consciousness and delivered by high fr equency jet ventilation. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is rigid bronchos copy is ideally performed in and operating room or an adjacent area or in a n intensive care unit in case of complication. Postoperative supervising in a recovery room is mandatory.