Management of complications from diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy

From the humble beginnings as a mere curiosity, the art of bronchoscopy has progressed at a rapid pace. The millennium ushers in new technologies and refinements in established techniques to facilitate early detection of cancer, precise targeting of pulmonary nodules and infiltrates, near-total staging of the mediastinum with combined endoscopic modalities and more effective palliation of inoperable tumours. Bronchoscopists are faced with an increasing myriad of tools and equipment, each promising to carry out better than the previous. It is opportune to review the complications of established bronchoscopic techniques and how to manage them as well as new complications associated with novel technologies. In this article, we provide a concise overview of diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopic modalities, discussion of associated complications and their management strategies.