Skip to main content
  • Commentary
  • Published:

The feasibility and safety of fiberoptic bronchoscopy during noninvasive ventilation in patients with established acute lung injury: another small brick in the wall

Abstract

In hypoxemic patients needing fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB), noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been used to prevent gas-exchange deterioration associated with FOB and to compensate for the increase in work of breathing occurring during FOB, thus avoiding endotracheal intubation and its related complications. The application of NIV to allow FOB has been found of particular interest in the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients spontaneously breathing and in those who started NIV to assist FOB. There is less information for patients who were already receiving NIV for acute respiratory failure and who were scheduled to undergo FOB. In the previous issue of Critical Care, the study by Baumann and colleagues adds new information to this specific issue, addressing the feasibility and safety of FOB during NIV in patients with established hypoxemic respiratory failure.

In the previous issue of Critical Care, Dr Baumann and colleagues conducted a prospective study to assess the feasibility of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) with bronchoalveolar lavage in critically ill patients who were on noninvasive ventilation (NIV) prior to the bronchoscopy procedure, to treat their acute hypoxemic respiratory failure [1]. Prospectively studying 40 consecutive severe acute lung injury patients (Simplified Acute Physiology Score II 47 ± 10, 21 (53%) immunocompromised) who were receiving NIV for several hours, the authors evaluated the feasibility and safety of diagnostic FOB. The authors delivered NIV via a facial mask, and introduced the bronchoscope into the airways through a T-adapter, with the classical seal connection [2–5], attached to the mask and connected to the respiratory circuit.

A low intubation rate (10%) was reported immediately after the procedure with high diagnostic performance, yielding useful information in almost 70% of the cases. Only two patients had oxygen desaturation (oxygen saturation <84%). At the end of the procedure and during the following 30 minutes there occurred in many cases a transient PaCO2 increase and a pH decrease. Contrary to previous reports in which patients received only topical anesthesia [2–7], in this investigation all patients received a form of sedation - a combination of 10 to 20 mg propofol and 1 to 2 mg midazolam every 2 to 3 minutes, or propofol alone. The cumulative doses of 2 mg benzodiazepine with 69 ± 41 mg propofol might explain the attenuation of the deepness of breath and the consequent, transitory hypercarbia. Even though no patients were intubated as a consequence of the sedative drugs received, this might be a matter for concern for more severe and at-risk patients. The conclusion, however, was that patients with established hypoxemic respiratory failure who are on NIV can well tolerate the bronchoscopic procedure, with a low complication rate.

But why perform FOB during NIV?

In critically ill patients, even standard FOB is associated with transient alterations in pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange [8, 9]. The PaO2 may fall significantly below its baseline value during the procedure and remains decreased for between a few minutes and several hours after removing the bronchoscope [8, 9]. In a group of 107 mechanically ventilated patients undergoing FOB, an average decline in the PaO2 of 26% was observed at the end of the procedure [10]. Hypoxemia may be more marked when bronchoalveolar lavage is performed because of ventilation and perfusion abnormalities induced by the saline solution instillation [11].

In a nonintubated adult male, a 5.7 mm outside diameter flexible bronchoscope occupies about 10% of the tracheal cross-sectional area and about 15% of the cross-sectional area at the cricoid ring [8]. Positioning the bronchoscope in the major airway decreases the area available for airway flow, and consequently increases airway resistance [8]. The high exhalation resistance rapidly results in an increase in functional residual capacity, and therefore in the development of an intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure mechanism [9]. This finally leads to increased work of breathing and risk of barotrauma. Besides the physical presence of the bronchoscope in the airway, a frequent suction through the working channel of the instrument may be another cause of the alterations in pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange. Removal of tracheobronchial gas by excessive use of suction evacuates respiratory gas from the airway, decreasing the functional residual capacity or causing de-recruitment under positive-pressure ventilation, with consequent hypoxemia [8, 12].

By improving oxygenation and reducing the work of breathing [13], NIV has been indicated as a useful method to avoid endotracheal intubation in hypoxemic and hypercapnic patients [3, 4, 14]. The application of NIV during FOB has until now been described in at-risk patients who were initially breathing spontaneously and started NIV to assist FOB [2, 5–7], and has been described sporadically in small subgroups of patients who were already receiving NIV and were scheduled to undergo FOB during NIV [3, 4, 15]. The study by Baumann and colleagues represents the first systematic investigation focused on severely ill patients with established acute lung injury receiving NIV [1]. Although not a randomized trial, this study's conclusions can reassure the clinician on the feasibility and safety of FOB with bronchoalveolar lavage in these difficult patients.

Abbreviations

FOB:

fiberoptic bronchoscopy

NIV:

noninvasive ventilation

PaCO2:

arterial pressure of carbon dioxide

PaO2:

arterial pressure of oxygen.

References

  1. Baumann HJ, Klose H, Simon M, Ghadban T, Braune SA, Hennigs JK, Kluge S: Fiber optic bronchoscopy in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring noninvasive ventilation - a feasibility study. Crit Care 2011, 15: R179. 10.1186/cc10328

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Antonelli M, Conti G, Riccioni L, Meduri GU: Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation via face mask during bronchoscopy with BAL in high-risk hypoxemic patients. Chest 1996, 110: 724-728. 10.1378/chest.110.3.724

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Antonelli M, Conti G, Rocco M, Bufi M, De Blasi RA, Vivino G, Gasparetto A, Meduri GU: A comparison of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation and conventional mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure. N Engl J Med 1998, 339: 429-435. 10.1056/NEJM199808133390703

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Antonelli M, Conti C, Bufi M, Costa MG, Lappa A, Rocco M, Gasparetto A, Meduri GU: Noninvasive ventilation for treatment of acute respiratory failure in patients undergoing solid organ transplantation. JAMA 2000, 283: 235-241. 10.1001/jama.283.2.235

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Antonelli M, Conti G, Rocco M, Arcangeli A, Cavaliere F, Proietti R, Meduri GU: Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation vs. conventional oxygen supplementation in hypoxemic patients undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy. Chest 2002, 121: 1149-1154. 10.1378/chest.121.4.1149

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Antonelli M, Pennisi MA, Conti G, Bello G, Maggiore SM, Michetti V, Cavaliere F, Proietti R: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation delivered by helmet. Intensive Care Med 2003, 29: 126-129.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Maitre B, Jaber S, Maggiore SM, Bergot E, Richard JC, Bakthiari H, Housset B, Boussignac G, Brochard L: Continuous positive airway pressure during fiberoptic bronchoscopy in hypoxemic patients: a randomized double-blind study using a new device. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000, 162: 1063-1067.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lindholm CE, Ollman B, Snyder JV, Snyder JV, Millen EG, Grenvik A: Cardiorespiratory effects of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in critically ill patients. Chest 1978, 74: 362-368. 10.1378/chest.74.4.362

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Matsushima Y, Jones RL, King EG, Moyosa G, Alton JD: Alteration in pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange during routine fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Chest 1984, 86: 184-188. 10.1378/chest.86.2.184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Peacock MD, Johnson JE, Blanton HM: Complications of flexible bronchoscopy in patients with severe obstructive pulmonary disease. J Bronchol 1994, 1: 181-186. 10.1097/00128594-199407000-00003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lin CC, Wu JL, Huang WC: Pulmonary function in normal subjects after bronchoalveolar lavage. Chest 1988, 93: 1049-1053. 10.1378/chest.93.5.1049

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lindgren S, Odenstedt H, Erlandsson K, Grivans C, Lundin S, Stenqvist O: Bronchoscopic suctioning may cause lung collapse: a lung model and clinical evaluation. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2008, 52: 209-218. 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2007.01499.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. L'Her E, Deye N, Lellouche F, Taille S, Demoule A, Fraticelli A, Mancebo J, Brochard L: Physiologic effects of noninvasive ventilation during acute lung injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2005, 172: 1112-1118. 10.1164/rccm.200402-226OC

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Brochard L, Isabey D, Piquet J, Amaro P, Mancebo J, Messadi AA, Brun-Buisson C, Rauss A, Lemaire F, Harf A: Reversal of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive lung disease by inspiratory assistance with a face mask. N Engl J Med 1990, 323: 1523-1530. 10.1056/NEJM199011293232204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Da Conceiçao M, Genco G, Favier JC, Bidallier I, Pitti R: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy during noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease with hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Ann Fr Anesth Rèanim 2000,19(4):231-236.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Massimo Antonelli.

Additional information

Competing interests

The author declares that he has no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Antonelli, M. The feasibility and safety of fiberoptic bronchoscopy during noninvasive ventilation in patients with established acute lung injury: another small brick in the wall. Crit Care 15, 191 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc10342

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc10342

Keywords