Fibroendoscopia delle VADS nelle urgenze pediatriche

The diagnostic and therapeutical approach to nasal and laryngeal pathology, in infant and adults, has made progress owing to introduction of optical fibres in medical field. The rhinolaryngoscope is employed to value respiratory airways function and structure. Nasal endoscopy, in pediatric age, can be executed by a flexible fibreoptic rhinolaryngoscope with a diameter between 1,8 and 1,2 mm or with a 2,7 mm 30° angled rigid optic. Laryngeal endoscopy, in children's age, is always effected by flexible fibroscope which, inserted in nasal fossa, allow to reach and to go beyond rhinopharynx and to value oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx from the top. Urgent pediatric pathologies that are found by fibreoptic rhinolaryngoscope more frequently turn out to be: nasal or pharyngo-laryngeal foreign body, laryngomalacia, acute epiglottitis and hypoglottical laryngitis. This check is invasive at all and well tolerated by children, it can also be executed in not very collaborating subjects, it is at low cost and effected in ambulatory without anaesthesia.