Cases of foreign body removal from the bronchi described by Feliks Erbrich in Issue No. 15 of “Gazeta Lekarska”, 1911

<ns3:p>&lt;b&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; The pioneer of Polish and global bronchoscopy was the first Polish laryngologist, Professor of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Przemysław Wiktor Odrowąż-Pieniążek (1850–1916). In 1872, he was the first in Poland and worldwide to perform the so-called lower bronchoscopy, introducing a specially designed funnel into the patient’s trachea through a tracheostomy opening in order to aspirate diphtheritic membranes. However, he described this procedure only in 1901. In 1884, Odrowąż-Pieniążek performed the world’s first classic tracheobronchoscopy. In Warsaw, the development of academic laryngology is undoubtedly associated with the name of Feliks Erbrich (1874–1938). The year 2027 will mark the 130th anniversary of Gustav Killian (1860–1921), the teacher of the eminent Warsaw laryngologist, performing his first bronchoscopy. Killian was the first to introduce the term “bronchoscopy”, and his student, Erbrich, rapidly mastered this then-novel bronchoscopic technique. In 1911, in issue No. 15 of “Gazeta Lekarska”, Erbrich described intriguing and complex cases of foreign body removal from the bronchi using a bronchoscope. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Aim:&lt;/b&gt; To analyze the technique of tracheobronchoscopy at the beginning of the 20th century as developed and applied by the Warsaw laryngologist Erbrich, a pioneer of modern medical technology. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Materials and methods:&lt;/b&gt; The study is based on his descriptions of clinic cases and detailed medical methods used in treating patients at the Holy Spirit Hospital in Warsaw (“Gazeta Lekarska”, 1911 № 15). &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results and discussion:&lt;/b&gt; The distinguished laryngologist, Erbrich, noted that tracheo- and bronchoscopy were among the most advanced medical techniques for removing foreign bodies from the bronchi, increasingly applied in diverse cases for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. He emphasized the effectiveness of the method and described various, sometimes astonishing, examples of highly successful outcomes achieved through bronchoscopy. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Poland is the homeland of outstanding otolaryngologists of global significance. The article particularly highlights the achievements of the Polish otolaryngologist. Erbrich in popularizing knowledge on the clinical presentation of bronchial foreign bodies and the techniques of bronchoscopy. It evokes sincere admiration and astonishment that, as early as 130 years ago, the bronchoscopy technique developed by Erbrich was highly refined and virtually flawless.</ns3:p>