Complications of rigid laryngo-bronchoscopy in children.

Twenty-five complications (of which 2 were lethal) occurred in 1332 rigid laryngo-bronchoscopies performed under general anesthesia in the Sophia Children's Hospital during an 8 year period (1982-1990). The nature and circumstances of these complications were studied retrospectively. Important intraoperative complications were hemorrhage and cardiac arrhythmia; postoperative complications were intoxication and respiratory complications. Three risk factors: tetralogy of Fallot, biopsy/drainage, and extraction of an aspirated foreign body appeared to be significantly associated with complications. The results of this study were compared with those reported in studies of rigid and flexible laryngo-bronchoscopies in children.