An Update on Bronchoscopy and Other Airway Device Updates

In 1954, the first coherent fiberoptic bundle capable of transmitting an image was built, and in 1958, the first flexible fibergastroscope prototype. In 1967, Murphy introduced the technique of tracheal intubation by a coledoscope, through which he slid a 7.5 mm endotracheal tube (ETT) into the nasopharynx, visualizing only the entrance to the larynx because it was too short to guide the ETT. In 1968, the first fiberoptic bronchoscope (FBO) was constructed and, later, 60 cm. insertion cords appeared. In 1972, a series of 100 intubations with FBO was published with 96% success. Following the publication of the ASA airway management guidelines of 1993, the use of FBO increased considerably, becoming the gold standard for Difficult Airway (DA).

Keywords: Airway management, aScope, Bronchoscopes, Cricothyroid Membrane, Difficult airway, Fibro-bronchoscopes, Intubation, Intratracheal, Laryngoscopy, Predictors, Tracheostomy, Videolaryngoscope.