ABSTRACT
Bronchoscopy is the most commonly performed procedure by pulmonary physicians
today. The history of bronchoscopy dates back to the 19th century and was first
performed in 1897 by Gustav Killian for extraction of an aspirated piece of bone
from a patient’s right main stem bronchus (1). The first bronchoscopes developed
were rigid and used mostly for extraction of foreign bodies. Modifications to the
rigid bronchoscope now allow for maintenance of ventilation, improved visualization
with the use of optical telescopes, and passage of various instruments for diagnostic
and therapeutic procedures (2,3). The major disadvantage of rigid bronchoscopy is
the inability to access the upper lobes and airways distal to the segmental orifices.
The rigid bronchoscope continues to have many important uses today, although its
use has subsided with the introduction of the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. The
first fiberoptic bronchoscope was developed by Ikeda in 1964 (4). The properties of
fiberoptics enable the bronchoscope to bend, and this allows for easy navigation
throughout the tracheo-bronchial tree. Flexible bronchoscopy currently plays an
important role for diagnosis and treatment in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
