Complications and discomfort of bronchoscopy: a systematic review

Abstract

ObjectiveTo identify bronchoscopy-related complications and discomfort, meaningful complication rates, and predictors.MethodWe conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed on 8 February 2016, using a search strategy including the PICO model, on complications and discomfort related to bronchoscopy and related sampling techniques.ResultsThe search yielded 1,707 hits, of which 45 publications were eligible for full review. Rates of mortality and severe complications were low. Other complications, for instance, hypoxaemia, bleeding, pneumothorax, and fever, were usually not related to patient characteristics or aspects of the procedure, and complication rates showed considerable ranges. Measures of patient discomfort differed considerably, and results were difficult to compare between different study populations.ConclusionMore research on safety aspects of bronchoscopy is needed to conclude on complication rates and patient- and procedure-related predictors of complications and discomfort.

Tension pneumothorax and diffuse subcutaneous emphysema as a complication of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

“…On physical exam, the patient was unresponsive, and had diffuse swelling and crepitus extending from his face down to his thighs. On chest auscultation, no breath sounds were audible on the right side.As the incidence rate of tension pneumothorax secondary to invasive lung procedures is 0% to 4%1 a chest X-ray (figure 1) was done which showed diffuse subcutaneous emphysema and a large right lung lucency suggestive of tension pneumothorax. The diffuse granular opacities on the left side were unchanged from the previous study and represented his diagnosis of interstitial lung disease.…”

Aspiration techniques for bronchoalveolar lavage in translational respiratory research: Paving the way to develop novel therapeutic moieties

“…In most cases, three to five aliquots of 50 ml of sterile, phosphate-buffered saline solution at 37°C is instilled and after each instillation, the fluid is gently aspirated with a negative pressure of −40 to −50 mm Hg [11]. Recently, a systemic review of published literature upto 2016 concluded that the process of collecting BALf via flexible bronchoscope in humans is generally safe, however, it also asserted the need of more research to document complications of procedure in greater details [12].…”

Abdominal Displacement Ventilation: An Effective Intervention for Sedation-Induced Hypoxia

“…Hypoxia is a known complication of sedation, with frequency of hypoxia depending upon how it is defined [1-4]. Hypoxia can at times lead to transient discontinuation of the procedure or to procedure termination in order to provide ventilatory support.…”