van Zwam Janet P, Kapteijns Erik F G, Lahey Sylvia, Smit Hans J M
Alysis Heathcare Group, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2010 Jan;17(1):29-32. doi: 10.1097/LBR.0b013e3181cc3a75.
Flexible bronchoscopy is performed under many different conditions (sitting/supine position, with or without oxygen prophylaxis) in different hospitals according to local traditions.
The study was to investigate the effect of different patient positions in flexible bronchoscopy on patient comfort and safety.
We started a prospective randomized controlled trial to compare bronchoscopy in supine and sitting positions. Consecutive outpatients undergoing regular diagnostic bronchoscopy were included and randomly selected to be in a supine or sitting position. A self-administrated questionnaire was taken from the patients after the bronchoscopy and the answers were evaluated. A total of 107 patients were included; 46 underwent bronchoscopy in the supine position.
Of all patients, 52% showed a decrease in oxygen saturation of more than 4%. The sitting position is a risk factor for oxygen decline, with a relative risk of 2.46.
We recommend performing the procedure while the patient is in a supine position. We also recommend routine prophylactic low-flow supplemental oxygen in all patients undergoing bronchoscopy.
