Rigid bronchoscopy in the twenty-first century

Rigid bronchoscopy has now been performed for more than 100 years in three centuries. It has proven to be as compatible with modem technologies like lasers and stents as it was with the crude foreign body extraction instruments of the 19th century. In this article, the authors review the history, indications, contraindications, and technique of rigid bronchoscopy and comment on its current and future usefulness in the management of tracheobronchial disorders.