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Fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the intensive care unit

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Summary

Fibreoptic bronchoscopy has largely replaced rigid bronchoscopy in the intensive therapy unit. Retained bronchial secretions may be removed and difficult intubations performed with the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope. In addition, it may provide uncontaminated lower airway samples for microbiological studies that can aid in the choice of antibiotic therapy. In our series of fibre-optic bronchoscopies performed on critically ill patients the procedure was effective in improving atelectasis in all cases in which retained bronchial secretions were found. In most patients the degree of bronchial occlusion by mucous plugs was far greater than expected on the basis of chest radiography. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was also successful in diagnosing bronchogenic carcinoma, gastric content aspiration, bronchial avulsion and laryngeal oedema. We conclude that fibreoptic bronchoscopy is a safe and valuable procedure in the intensive care unit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Respiratory Medicine and Anaesthetics, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Ireland

    R. T. N. Gibney, N. J. Brennan, R. Davys & M. X. FitzGerald

  2. Department of Medicine, University College, Dublin

    R. T. N. Gibney, N. J. Brennan, R. Davys & M. X. FitzGerald

  3. Director of Intensive Care Unit, Edmonton General Hospital, 11111 Jasper Avenue, T5K 0L4, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    R. T. N. Gibney

Authors
  1. R. T. N. Gibney
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  2. N. J. Brennan
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  3. R. Davys
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  4. M. X. FitzGerald
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Gibney, R.T.N., Brennan, N.J., Davys, R. et al. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy in the intensive care unit. I.J.M.S. 153, 416–420 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939831

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939831

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