ABSTRACT
The importance of checking that all the necessary equipment is present and compatible cannot be over-estimated. The scrub nurse must be familiar with the equipment and the likely sequence of events. Telescopes and bronchoscopes must be kept warm to minimize condensation, which will fog the endoscopic view. The surgeon and anesthetist should discuss strategy and their relative responsibilities prior to the arrival of the child. Failed retrieval of an inhaled foreign body has the potential to produce complete airway obstruction, with predictable consequences.
