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<p>This narrative review examines the evolving role of single-use flexible bronchoscopes (SUFBs) in contemporary respiratory medicine. SUFBs have become an increasingly important part of respiratory practice, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for rapid, safe, and infection-conscious bronchoscopy services. It summarizes the current evidence regarding their advantages, limitations, and clinical applications across different healthcare settings. A key advantage of SUFBs is the elimination of contamination associated with bronchoscope reprocessing, although direct evidence demonstrating a reduction in patient infection rates remains limited. Their portability and immediate availability make them particularly valuable in intensive care units, emergency airway management, bronchoscopy for patients with suspected transmissible respiratory infections, and situations where there is a high risk of bronchoscope damage. Despite substantial technological advances, SUFBs do not yet consistently match the image quality, suction performance, manoeuvrability, and procedural versatility of reusable flexible bronchoscopes (RFBs). Consequently, RFBs remain indispensable for advanced diagnostic and interventional pulmonary procedures, including tumour debulking, airway stenting, cryotherapy, and navigational bronchoscopy. Economic and environmental considerations also influence device selection. While SUFBs may be cost-effective in selected low-volume or critical care settings, routine universal adoption may increase procedural costs, particularly in resource-limited healthcare systems. In addition, concerns regarding disposable waste and long-term environmental sustainability remain unresolved. Current evidence therefore supports an indication-based approach rather than universal replacement, with a hybrid model combining SUFBs and RFBs offering the most balanced strategy to optimize patient safety, clinical effectiveness, sustainability, and equitable access to respiratory care.</p>

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Single-use bronchoscopes in contemporary respiratory practice: current evidence and clinical applications

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月5日

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  • John Muchahary,
  • Wong Yen Shen,
  • Amal Raj

摘要

This narrative review examines the evolving role of single-use flexible bronchoscopes (SUFBs) in contemporary respiratory medicine. SUFBs have become an increasingly important part of respiratory practice, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for rapid, safe, and infection-conscious bronchoscopy services. It summarizes the current evidence regarding their advantages, limitations, and clinical applications across different healthcare settings. A key advantage of SUFBs is the elimination of contamination associated with bronchoscope reprocessing, although direct evidence demonstrating a reduction in patient infection rates remains limited. Their portability and immediate availability make them particularly valuable in intensive care units, emergency airway management, bronchoscopy for patients with suspected transmissible respiratory infections, and situations where there is a high risk of bronchoscope damage. Despite substantial technological advances, SUFBs do not yet consistently match the image quality, suction performance, manoeuvrability, and procedural versatility of reusable flexible bronchoscopes (RFBs). Consequently, RFBs remain indispensable for advanced diagnostic and interventional pulmonary procedures, including tumour debulking, airway stenting, cryotherapy, and navigational bronchoscopy. Economic and environmental considerations also influence device selection. While SUFBs may be cost-effective in selected low-volume or critical care settings, routine universal adoption may increase procedural costs, particularly in resource-limited healthcare systems. In addition, concerns regarding disposable waste and long-term environmental sustainability remain unresolved. Current evidence therefore supports an indication-based approach rather than universal replacement, with a hybrid model combining SUFBs and RFBs offering the most balanced strategy to optimize patient safety, clinical effectiveness, sustainability, and equitable access to respiratory care.