Competences in bronchoscopy for Intensive Care Unit, anesthesiology, thoracic surgery and lung transplantation

In the last decades, the use of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) has greatly increased in intensive care, anesthesia and thoracic surgery for diagnostic purpose, management of critical patients and to facilitate airway management for tracheal intubation, one lung ventilation and lung transplant management. The huge availability of endoscopic instruments and devices for airway management has amplified indications and possibilities for bronchoscopic procedures performed by intensive care physicians, anesthesiologist, endoscopists, and surgeons too. These practices need adequate technical skills that can be acquired only through defined learning pathways. This manuscript summarizes the indications and the competencies needed to perform bronchoscopic procedures in intensive care, anesthesia and thoracic surgery settings.