In inhalation injury, bronchoscopy is used primarily to:

• A. Visualize airway injury, remove debris, obtain specimens, and guide airway management
• B. Administer systemic steroids
• C. Measure airway resistance
• D. Place a tracheostomy

Answer: (A)

Bronchoscopy in inhalation injury is used to directly visualize the airways to assess the extent and depth of mucosal injury, remove soot and debris that can block airflow, and obtain specimens for culture or pathology. This direct look allows real-time decisions about airway management—such as the need for suctioning, debridement, or adjusting the approach to securing the airway—based on what is seen inside the tracheobronchial tree. It combines diagnostic insight with immediate therapeutic action to keep airways clear and guide overall treatment.

Administering systemic steroids isn’t a function of the bronchoscopy itself. Measuring airway resistance is done with pulmonary function testing, not bronchoscopy. Placing a tracheostomy is a separate procedure; bronchoscopy may inform that decision but does not by itself place the tracheostomy.