Fibreoptic bronchoscopy - indications, results and pick-up rates of various sampling modalities

Abstract

An adult of the 328 fibreoptic bronchoscopies carried out by one respiratory physician [SM] at SLH in last 27mths [40.1 % of all bronchoscopies in SLH in study period] was carried out in order to study the local picture of the indications, results and pick-up rates of various sampling modalities used during this useful procedure. Of these 328 bronchoscopies, 251 were carried on males [12-90 yrs] and 77 on females [age 19-89yrs] of these bronchoscopies were carried out in the ITU settling, both as emergency therapeutic measures [common indications: lobar collapse, bronchial toilet for increased secretions] and as diagnostic procedures [better sampling for c/s]. All but two of the other bronchoscopies were carried out using Alfenta nyl as sedation and topical xylocaine as local airway anaesthesia. Unresolving pneumonias and CXR abnormalities were two of the commonest indications.