Safety of Flexible Bronchoscopy

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) is a procedure widely utilized in the diagnosis and management of different lung pathologies.

Recent Findings

The safety of FB in different high-risk patient populations such as severe asthma, pulmonary hypertension, COPD, immunosuppresion, obesity, elderly, increased intracranial pressure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for cardiogenic shock/respiratory failure, and non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation has been advocated in numerous retrospective and prospective studies.

Summary

FB is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tool with low incidence of adverse events that can be safely offered to high-risk patients with pulmonary disease.

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