Bronchoscopy Procedures Implemented During the Pandemic Period in a University Hospital

Our objective was to review the bronchoscopy procedures conducted at our hospital during the pandemic, with a focus on the potential risks of COVID-19 transmission associated with these interventions.

This comprehensive study included all patients who underwent bronchoscopy in the Department of Pulmonology at Akdeniz University from March 15 to December 31, 2020. A retrospective review of medical records covered demographic information, procedure indications, urgency, procedure type, diagnostic results, and the patient's COVID-19 history. Data collection also recorded the number of personnel involved in bronchoscopy during the pandemic, along with their COVID-19 history.

A total of 250 bronchoscopy procedures were performed during the study period. The majority of patients were male (74.8%), with a mean age of 58 ± 13.5 years. The most common indication for bronchoscopy was lung cancer (39.2%), followed by other causes like interstitial lung diseases and sarcoidosis. No patients with a positive pre-procedural COVID-19 PCR test were included in the procedure. All patients who underwent the procedure had a negative PCR test result. No post-procedural COVID-19 cases were observed among healthcare workers or patients following the procedures. All procedures were conducted with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and SARSCoV-2 RT-PCR testing was performed on 76.8% of patients before the procedure. No complications, other than minor hemorrhages, were reported.

Bronchoscopy performed with appropriate PPE, in a negative pressure room, and with pre-procedural SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, is a safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety protocols implemented in this study successfully minimized the risk of COVID-19 transmission to healthcare workers and patients.