Iatrogenic bleeding during flexible bronchoscopy : risk factors, prophylactic measures and management

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Significant iatrogenic bleeding during flexible bronchoscopy is fortunately rare and usually self-limiting. Life-threatening bleeding, however, can occur, especially after conventional or cryoprobeassisted transbronchial biopsy. The aim of this review is to provide the practising pulmonologist with a concise overview of the incidence, severity and risk factors for bleeding, to provide sensible advice on prophylactic measures and to suggest a plan of action in the case of significant bleeding. Bronchoscopy units should have a standardised approach and plan of action in the case of life-threatening haemorrhage. Wedging the bronchoscope in the bleeding segment, turning the patient in an anti-Trendelenburg position and onto the side in order for the bleeding lung to be in the dependent position, installing vasoconstrictors and using a tamponade balloon early are the recommended first-line strategies. Involving a resuscitation team should be considered early in the case of massive bleeding, desaturation and haemodynamic instability.

Description

CITATION: Bernasconi, M., et al. 2017. Iatrogenic bleeding during flexible bronchoscopy : risk factors, prophylactic measures and management. ERJ Open Research, 3:00084-2016, doi:10.1183/23120541.00084-2016.
The original publication is available at https://openres.ersjournals.com

Keywords

Bronchoscopy -- Flexible, Bleeding, Bronchoscopy, Iatrogenic diseases

Citation

Bernasconi, M., et al. 2017. Iatrogenic bleeding during flexible bronchoscopy : risk factors, prophylactic measures and management. ERJ Open Research, 3:00084-2016, doi:10.1183/23120541.00084-2016

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/104337

Collections

Research Articles (Pulmonology)

Full item page