Indications, results and complications of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: a 5-year experience in a referral population in Greece.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively review the indications, results and complications of flexible fiberoptic bron- choscopy (FFB) in an University teaching Hospi- tal. Also, we present the radiological findings for the major causes according to computed tomog- raphy of the chest performed within 48 h of fiberoptic bronchoscopy. A total of 4,098 FFBs were performed from Jan- uary 1, 2003 to December 30, 2007. For diagnostic purposes, 3769 FFBs performed (92%) and for therapeutic purposes 329 FFBs (8%) performed. Haemoptysis was the most common indica- tion for FFB (21%), followed by fever/suspected infection (19%) and chronic cough (18%). The most common results of the diagnostic workup was nonspecific inflammation of the tracheo- bronchial tree (31% for haemoptysis, 38.7% for fever and 48.5% for chronic cough), with malig- nancy ranking second (17%, 26.1% and 26% re- spectively). The cytological results showed ade- nocarcinoma to be the most common lung can- cer in both sexes (37.3% for men and 39.7% for women). The mortality rate was 0.04% and the frequency for major and minor complications was 0.56% and 0.33%, respectively. In conclusion, flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a safe procedure and can play a major role in both diagnosis and treatment, as long as the requisites of preparation and supervision are followed.