Security & usefulness of bronchoscopy in elderly patients
Work presented to the 9th National Congress Pneumonology

SAFETY & USE OF FIBER-BRONCHOSCOPY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

N. D. Hainis, E. Theodoropoulos, K. Katis, A. Verykaki E. Zachariadis, M. H. Inglezos Angelidou, X. Tsiafaki, N. Karagiannidis, F. skipjack, B. Handrinos, P. Ziotopoulos and F . Apostolopoulou.

Sismanoglio G.P.N.A.

A ', B', C `Pulmonology Deartments - Bonchologic laboratory

In order to assess the safety and usefulness of inovronchoskopisis in elderly patients, studied the records of vronchologikou laboratory of our hospital from 1/1/1991 until 30/7/1997 and revealed the following: a total, 7542 bronchoscopy performed by 10 vronchoskopous total (with a different experience each), the 368 (4.78%) patients were aged over 80. Of these, 307 men (83.42%) and 61 women (16.58%) with average age 86 years (80-99eton). Indication bronchoscopy were mainly hemoptysis, the pathological N / A chest, coughing and chest pain.

Of the 368 elderly patients vronchoskopithikan, was diagnosed in 143 (38.85%).

Details: Bronchogenic carcinoma was diagnosed in 133 patients (93%). Small 25 (18.80%). Non-small 108 (81.20%) [squamous 40 (37.03%), adenokarkinoma 17 (15.75%) megalokyttariko 13 (12.03%), adiaforopiito 37 (34.26%), and 1 bronchoalveolar (0 , 93%)]

In 10 patients (7%) were diagnosed other diseases [7 TBC, 1 sarcoidosis, 1 pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonia 1]. The diagnosis was made by loop biopsy, bronchial secretions, brush, metavronchoskopika sputum culture and bronchial secretions. Please note that all elderly patients, a negative / had a chest only 8 patients (2.17%) and only

one (12.5%) of them was diagnosed.

The bronchoscopy was well tolerated by almost all patients. Stop needed to be done only in 3 patients (0.81%). In a result of poor cooperation and the other two because this showed hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension treated successfully, respectively.

`Taking into consideration the age, the large number of vronchoskopon and high rate of diagnosis, we can conclusively say that inovronchoskopisi is a safe and reliable diagnostic method.