A Study of Role of Bronchoscopy in Intensive Care Units

(1) To know the contributions of bronchoscopy in intensive care units (ICUs) in terms of therapeutic benefits and diagnostic purposes. (2) To know the safety of the bronchoscopy procedure in ICUs in critically ill patients.

This is a retrospective observational study that included 41 patients who underwent bronchoscopy in the ICU of a tertiary care center. Data collected included the patient's clinical profile, vitals, cause of ICU admission, indication for bronchoscopy, and complications.

There were 41 ICU patients who required and underwent bronchoscopy. A number of 15 patients (36.5%) were on mechanical ventilation, and 10 patients (24.3%) were on noninvasive ventilation (NIV) support. The most common indication was lung collapse in 23 (56%) patients. Out of 41 patients who underwent the procedure, 28 patients (68.2%) showed postprocedure improvement, which shows the utility of the procedure. Minor complications occurred in 18 patients (43%) and included hypoxia, bleeding, and bronchospasm. Zero mortality was reported during or after the procedure.

Bronchoscopy provides excellent diagnostic yield and therapeutic benefits in ICU patients with respiratory conditions, and it is relatively safe even in high-risk patients when done by trained consultants.