A one-year-old child was brought to Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida, in critical condition, suffering from multilobar pneumonia, sepsis, and bilateral pneumothorax. The child had intercostal chest drains (ICD) in place and was on a high oxygen requirement, struggling to maintain adequate respiratory function. Given the severity of the condition, a multidisciplinary team of paediatricians, pediatric intensivists, and pulmonologists decided to perform a bronchoscopic airway assessment and lavage.

Bronchoscopy was performed to assess the airway for a possible fistula and to remove thick secretions obstructing the lungs. The procedure also allowed for high-quality sampling from the tracheobronchial tree, aiding in targeted microbiological cultures and optimizing antibiotic therapy.

The outcomes were great. The bronchoscopic lavage effectively cleared the thick scretion, improving ventilation-perfusion (VQ) matching. With a clearer airway, the child’s oxygenation levels improved significantly. The procedure provided high-quality samples, enabling precise microbiological analysis for better infection management.

Following the intervention, the child showed remarkable improvement, with reduced oxygen dependency and better respiratory function. This pioneering approach at Yatharth Hospital, Noida, demonstrated the hospital's expertise in handling complex pediatric critical care cases, offering new hope in life-threatening respiratory emergencies.