Diagnostic utility of flexible bronchoscopy in elderly patients

In the elderly population, diagnosis and initial treatment should be considered as soon as possible because of high disease incidence and complications. We aimed to evaluate the findings of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) and determine the diagnostic utility of FB in patients 65 years old and older.

We retrospectively evaluated FB results. Demographic data, clinical and bronchoscopic findings, diagnostic procedures during FB and incidence of accurate diagnosis with FB both in patients 65 years old and older and in younger patients were determined.

A total of 745 patients [younger patients (<65 years, n = 378, F/M: 120/258) and older patients (≥65 years, n = 367, F/M: 88/279)] who underwent FB at our clinic between 2009 and 2012 were included. The mean age of older patients was 72.6 ± 5.8 years, while the mean age of younger patients was 50.9 ± 11.7 years. Overall, 188 older patients (51.2%) had an accurate diagnosis with the procedures used during bronchoscopy, and 179 younger patients (47.3%) had a final diagnosis with these procedures. The diagnostic utility of FB did not differ significantly between study groups (P = 0.291). During FB, 326 older patients (88.8%) had no complication, and 343 younger patients (90.7%) had no complications. No statistically significant difference was found between older and younger patients in terms of complications during FB (P = 0.389).

The results of this study indicate the high diagnostic value of FB together with low complication rates in patients aged 65 years and older.