Selective bronchial intubation for acute post-operative atelectasis in neonates and infants.

Selective bronchial intubation and lavage under fluoroscopic control was performed in 10 surgical neonates and infants to clear lobar atelectasis, after standard physiotherapeutic techniques had failed. Full re-expansion of the lung was obtained in all cases. The indications and techniques of selective bronchial intubation and lavage are described. This manoeuvre can be recommended in early post-operative atelectasis in neonates and infants if non-invasive measures have failed.