RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Sedation for flexible bronchoscopy: current and emerging evidence
JF European Respiratory Review
JO EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 106
OP 116
DO 10.1183/09059180.00006412
VO 22
IS 128
A1 Ricardo J. José
A1 Shahzad Shaefi
A1 Neal Navani
YR 2013
UL http://err.ersjournals.com/content/22/128/106.abstract
AB Flexible bronchoscopy is commonly performed by respiratory physicians and is the gold standard for directly visualising the airways, allowing for numerous diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. With the widespread use of flexible bronchoscopy and the evolution of interventional bronchoscopy with more complex and longer procedures, physicians are placing increasing importance on the use of sedation as a necessary adjunct to topical anaesthesia. There is no standardised practice for the use of sedation in bronchoscopy with a good deal of variation among physicians regarding the use of pre-procedure medication and pharmacological sedatives. In addition, there is ongoing debate and controversy about proceduralist-administered versus anaesthetist-administered sedation whilst at the same time there is a growing body of evidence that nonanaesthetist administered sedation is safe and cost-effective. In this review we summarise the evidence for the use of sedation as an adjunct to topical anaesthesia in bronchoscopy and provide the clinician with up-to-date concise guidance for the use of pharmacological sedatives in bronchoscopy and future directions for sedation in the bronchoscopy suite.