Bronchoscopy was performed on two bottlenose dolphins for a total of three separate procedures. We used a BFP200 Olympus video chip bronchoscope with a 55 cm working length, 5.2 mm outer diameter, and 2.0 mm working channel.

One dolphin was given diazepam at an oral dose of 0.2 mg/kg one hour prior to the procedure while the other received no sedation. All patients gagged when the bronchoscope was introduced into the arytenoepiglottidean tube. After instilling five ml of aqueous tetracaine through the working channel, the gag was relieved. For each case, brush biopsies of mainstem bronchi and three 20 ml bronchoalveolar lavages were performed. Each procedure lasted no longer than 15 minutes.

The only limitation of the human Olympus bronchoscope was its length which only enabled us to enter into the mainstem bronchi. However, its small diameter allowed easy introduction into the trachea and video capability and optics were superb. The procedure is safe, relatively easy to perform, and does not appear to cause undue stress to the patient.