Chest
Transbronchial Biopsy without Fluoroscopy: A Seven-year Perspective
Section snippets
Study Design
All fiberoptic bronchoscopic examinations performed by pulmonary fellows and staff members between January 1980 and December 1986 were reviewed. Basic patient data were recorded, including age, sex, indication for bronchoscopy, bronchoscopic approach, lobe biopsied, and whether fluoroscopy was used. Records of all patients undergoing biopsy procedures were reviewed, including bronchoscopy reports, radiographic reports, pathology reports, blood bank logs, and physician progress notes. When
RESULTS
A total of 1,232 fiberoptic bronchoscopic procedures were performed during this study period, of which 247 patients underwent TBB. Bronchoscopic reports were available for all of these patients. Inpatient and outpatient records were found and reviewed in 226 cases. Where patient records were sparse, actual postprocedure chest roentgenograms were reviewed in 34 cases and pathology specimen slides in 33 cases; patient and/or physician interviews were conducted in 57 cases. The patients' mean age
DISCUSSION
Since the introduction of the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope in the 1970s, its utility as a diagnostic tool with the use of TBB has dramatically increased. The use of fluoroscopy during TBB has been a matter of contention for several years, raising the question of safety as well as yield.8, 9 The recent studies of Prigogine and Schmerber,14 also involving diffuse lung disease not limited to sarcoidosis, showed rates of complication similar to those of our series, albeit with smaller numbers
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We wish to thank Ms. Martha Acosta for her help in preparing the manuscript.
References (0)
Cited by (64)
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Basic Bronchoscopy: Technology, Techniques, and Professional Fees
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Flexible Bronchoscopy
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Population-based estimates of transbronchial lung biopsy utilization and complications
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Interventional Chest Procedures in Pregnancy
2011, Clinics in Chest MedicineCitation Excerpt :Situations for which fluoroscopy is considered during bronchoscopy may arise in the performance of transbronchial biopsies and in airway stent placement. We do not use fluoroscopy routinely in these circumstances and would not consider using it in pregnancy in particular because no evidence base exists.41 However, the safety of using fluoroscopy in 65 pregnant women undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), where the radiation source is closer to the fetus, has been reported.42
The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
Manuscript received November 23; revision accepted February 1.