PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Omer S. Alamoudi
AU  - Susan M. Attar
AU  - Tawfik M. Ghabrah
AU  - Mohammed A. Kassimi
TI  - Bronchoscopy, indications, safety and complications
DP  - 2000 Nov 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1043--1047
VI  - 21
IP  - 11
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/21/11/1043.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/21/11/1043.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2000 Nov 01; 21
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To review the safety, indications, complications of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopies performed at university teaching hospital, and to correlate the bronchoscopic findings with radiology, histology, and history of smoking.METHODS: A total of 124 consecutive flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopies were reviewed in the last 3 years. A special form that contains personal data, indications, premedications, route of insertion, bronchoscopic findings, and complications in subjects-undergone bronchoscopy was completed.RESULTS: A suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis (31%), lung mass (19%) and hemoptysis (18%) were the most common indications. Hypoxemia (14%) during procedure and pneumothorax post procedure were the most common complications. Mortality rate was 0%. For 57% of subjects who had histology, lung cancer (44%), and tuberculosis (15.5%) were commonly found. Lung cancer (72%) and tuberculosis granuloma (18%) were mainly responsible for narrow segments during bronchoscopy. A radiological tumor like mass was found histopathologically to be as lung cancer in 86% and as tuberculous granuloma in 5%. About 84% of lung cancer patients were either smokers (57%) or ex-smokers (27%) as compared to only 35% in smokers and 13% in ex-smokers in patients without lung cancer, P-value<0.01.CONCLUSION: Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be performed safely whenever indicated. Complications occurred were minor and self limiting. Appropriate preparation, and close supervision and adherence to the protocol were essential for a successful and safe procedure.