LAUSR

Atelectasis is common in intensive care unit patients as there are several risk factors such as decreased mucociliary clearance resulting in thick tenacious plugs, poor cough reflex, sedation, and an inflamed tracheal mucosa, resulting in bronchial obstruction.[1] Urgent bronchoscopic removal may be a game-changer, but the bronchoscope working channel is of a narrow calibre, and thus, thick secretions are often not sucked out. We suggest a technique where a suction catheter is threaded over a paediatric bronchoscope and placed under vision at the area of mucus obstruction such that more effective suctioning can be performed.