Evaluation of Bronchoscopy Complications in a Tertiary Health Care Center

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopy is a technique of visualizing the inside of the airways for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This study was performed to determine the complications of bronchoscopy in a tertiary health-care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study had as descriptive cross sectional design. Four hundred adult patients between 16 to 85 years, who underwent bronchoscopy with a same method and same device and had no underlying disease, were consecutively enrolled. RESULTS: Bronchoscopy complications were seen in 13 patients (3.25%) including bleeding (four cases), pneumothorax (three cases), collapse (four cases), and infection (two cases). There was no association between complications and age, sex, bronchoscopy indications and findings (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the obtained results, it may be concluded that bronchoscopy can be performed safely whenever indicated. Complications occurred were minor and self limiting.