Using propofol for flexible bronchoscopy

Propofol is a sedative-hypnotic drug with rapid onset and recovery time. There are limited number of studies in which propofol was used for bronchoscopy. In this current study, we evaluated our patients who received propofol sedation for bronchoscopy in our clinic and investigated the usefulness of the procedure for both patients and physicians We prospectively evaluated patients who had bronchoscopy in our clinic between 2012 January and 2013 January. We recorded demographic features, indications for bronchoscopy, procedures of bronchoscopy, duration of the procedures, minor and major adverse events and hemodynamic parameters of the patients. All patients were monitored until they were discharged from the bronchoscopy unit. In total, 97 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 65 years, 60 of them were male (61%) and 37 were women (39%). Major indications were lung lesions that were suspected to be central or peripheral lung cancer. Other indications were mediastinal-hilar lymph nodes, hemoptysis, tuberculosis, atelectasis, chronic cough and tracheomalacia. Mean propofol dose was 90 mg in patients who had biopsy and 70 mg for those who did not have biopsy. Mean duration of the procedure was 14 minutes in those who had biopsy and 10 minutes in those who did not have biopsy. One patient had epistaxis after receiving topical lidocaine and two patients had respiratory arrest that required ambulation with a mask. Thirty-five patients (36%) had desaturation, which was reversed by providing adequate oxygenation. Propofol is a useful and applicable sedative-hypnotic for patients and physicians for fiberoptic bronchoscopy.