Current status of diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy in Japan: 2016 national survey of bronchoscopy

The safety management committee of the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy (JSRE) conducted national surveys to clarify the state of diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy in 2016.

Questionnaire forms were mailed to 532 JSRE-accredited facilities throughout Japan. We surveyed the actual condition of clinical practice and cases of bronchoscopy during 2016.

Four hundred and thirty-three facilities responded giving a response rate of 81.4%; 67.6% held more than 400 beds. The average number of board accredited senior Fellows and Fellows per facility was 1.9 and 3.2, respectively. Diagnostic bronchoscopy was performed in a hospitalized setting in 74.6% of all facilities. The radial type ultrasound probe was operated in 51.7% of all facilities. The number of facilities has markedly increased compared with that reported in the 2010 survey (19.6%). The bronchoscopic navigation system had been in operation in 41.7% of all facilities. Antithrombotic drugs were adjusted before biopsy in 96.8% of all facilities. For intravenous sedation, midazolam was the first choice in 76.9% of all facilities. Endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial lymph node needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become popular over the decade (19.6% in 2010 to 68.1% in 2016). The mean number of the board accredited senior Fellows and board accredited Fellows increased in comparison with that in 2010. As a new technique, radial type ultrasound-guided peripheral approach has become popular.

Through this survey, the advanced safety of bronchoscopic examination has been secured in many facilities. A continuous monitoring of bronchoscopic practices with respect to safety management is recommended.