Diagnostic Usefulness and Safety of Transtracheal Aspiration

ACCURATE interpretation of the significance of the isolation of potentially pathogenic microorganisms by culture of expectorated respiratory-tract secretions is frequently impossible. Often, such material contains micro-organisms not recoverable by more direct means of culturing the lower respiratory tract.1 2 3 4 The problem cannot be solved by the usual transpharyngeal technics. Bronchoscopy is too specialized and too cumbersome for routine clinical use1 , 2 , 4; in selected patients, however, the possibility of acquiring additional useful information by direct visualization of the lower respiratory tract recommends bronchoscopy. Catheters, peroral and nasal, are invariably soiled with pharyngeal secretions in the course of the generally unsuccessful battle to . . .