Patients prefer sedation for fibreoptic bronchoscopy

Area of Science:

• Medical procedures
• Sedation and anesthesia

Background:

• Fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be uncomfortable for patients.
• Assessing patient tolerance and long-term perceptions of sedation is crucial for procedural improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of intravenous (i.v.) diazepam sedation on patient comfort during fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
• To determine if perceived benefits of sedation persist upon later questioning.

Main Methods:

• A sequential, parallel group design was employed, comparing patients receiving i.v. diazepam sedation with a non-sedated control group.
• Patient comfort and desired sedation levels for repeat procedures were assessed immediately post-procedure and at least one month later.

Main Results:

• Sedated patients reported significantly higher comfort levels during bronchoscopy (P = 0.01).
• Sedated patients were more likely to desire no change in sedation for future procedures, with this effect more pronounced at later questioning.
• No increased complication rate was observed with sedation, but recovery room stay was prolonged (76.1 min vs. 19.2 min, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Intravenous diazepam sedation enhances patient comfort during fiberoptic bronchoscopy, with benefits persisting over time, potentially due to an amnesic effect.
• While effective for comfort, sedation prolongs recovery time and may increase associated costs.