COVID-19: BRONCHOSCOPY



source: emcrit.org

 COVID-19: BRONCHOSCOPY

  • Risks of bronchoscopy:
    • May cause some deterioration in clinical condition (due to instillation of saline and sedation).
    • Enormous risk of transmission to providers.
    • Considerable resource allocation (requires N95 respirators, physicians, respiratory therapists) – all resources which will be in slim supply during an epidemic.


  • Benefits of bronchoscopy:
    • Benefit of diagnosing COVID-19 is dubious at this point (given that treatment is primarily supportive).
  • Bottom line on bronchoscopy?
    • Bronchoscopy might be considered in situations where it would otherwise be performed (e.g. patient with immunosuppression with concerns for Pneumocystis pneumonia or fungal pneumonia).
    • Bronchoscopy should not be done for the purpose of ruling COVID-19 in or out (as this entails risk with no definite benefits)(Bouadma et al.).

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