الفهرس 
bronchoscopyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Introduction: Critically ill patients represent a high risk group for most invasive procedures. Bronchoscopy is a fundamental technique used in the study of respiratory diseases. It is increasingly being used in intensive care units (ICU) because it is easy to perform at the bedside, with few complications described with its use.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of bronchoscopy in the intensive care units (indications, advantages, disadvantages, results and complications).
Patients and methods: Bronchoscopy (rigid or fibroptic) was performed in Ain shams University hospital and Ain Shams University Specialized Hospitals on 80 ICU patients for diagnostic and/ or therapeutic indication. The patients were grouped into ventilated and non-ventilated.
Results: Fifty (62%) FOBs and 30 rigid bronchoscopies (37%) were performed on 30 ventilated patients (37.5 %) and the 50 none ventilated (62.5%). Ninety percent of flexible bronchoscopy was done for ventilated patients and 54% of rigid bronchoscopy was done in non-ventilated patients (54%). Eighty percent (80%) of the procedures were done for diagnostic purposes using FOB in 98% while 36.7% of bronchoscopies done for combined indications and 13.3% of therapeutic indications bronchoscopies were done with rigid bronchoscopy. Fifty one percent (51.25%) of the procedures that were done with bronchoscopies was lavage followed by 25% stent insertion. In 83.3% of ventilated patients lavage was done while stent insertion more at non ventilated patients group. Twenty six percent (26.25%) of patients was diagnosed malignant and 20% with infections of lower respiratory tract. Complications occurred as (21.25%) with mortality rate 0.0% and hypoxia was the most common.
Conclusion: Safety is one of the most important issues when deciding to perform bronchoscope in the ICU that depends on the accuracy of selection of the patients for the procedure and the experience of the bronchoscopist and facilities available.