The laryngeal mask airway in fibreoptic bronchoscopy.

A large series of patients is reported in whom the laryngeal mask airway was used to perform fibreoptic bronchoscopy. It allows direct visualisation of the airways during spontaneous respiration. It has enabled bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchography to be performed in children as young as 6 months and transbronchial biopsies in children as young as 4 years.