The Use of Ultrathin Bronchoscopy in the Management of Adult Croup

摘要

A 19-year-old woman with biphasic stridor was transferred to our hospital for further management. Bronchoscopy using an ultrathin bronchoscope on admission revealed severely swollen vocal cords and a narrowed upper trachea resulting from mucosal edema, and she was given a diagnosis of croup. After her condition improved slightly by an epinephrine nebulizer, a small-bore endo-tracheal tube was inserted with an ultrathin bronchoscopic guide. She was treated successfully and discharged 8 days later. The ultrathin bronchoscope was useful to make a diagnosis quickly in this adult case of severe croup and to intubate under difficult conditions to maintain airway patency.