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Anesthesiology108 papers

Bronchial compression

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Bronchial compression refers to the narrowing or obstruction of bronchial airways, often necessitating diagnostic procedures like bronchoscopy and potentially requiring interventions such as stenting or laser therapy, depending on the underlying cause. 14

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Symptoms may include dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and recurrent infections.
  • Diagnostic Imaging: Chest CT and bronchoscopy to visualize bronchial anatomy and identify obstructions. 19
  • Bronchoscopy: Essential for direct visualization and obtaining biopsies or brush samples. 17
  • Histopathological Analysis: Cytological and histological examination of bronchial secretions and biopsies. 1713
  • Management

  • Sedation:
  • - Propofol: Used for its rapid onset and short duration, suitable for both adults and children. 126 - Combination Therapy: Opioids (e.g., fentanyl) and benzodiazepines (e.g., midazolam) for balanced sedation. 4 - Remifentanil: Compared favorably with midazolam/propofol combinations for efficacy and safety. 7 - Dexmedetomidine: Inhalational administration shown effective for conscious sedation in daycare procedures. 2
  • Interventional Procedures:
  • - Laser Therapy: For treating obstructing tumors or strictures. 14 - Stenting: Placement of stents (e.g., Dumon stent) to maintain airway patency. 14
  • Monitoring: Use of sedation-agitation scales (e.g., SAS) to guide sedative dosages and monitor patient response. 8
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Propofol and fentanyl are effective for sedation; careful titration is crucial. 6
  • Elderly: Consider comorbidities and potential drug interactions; moderate sedation protocols recommended. 9
  • Comorbidities: Tailor sedation and intervention strategies based on underlying conditions like respiratory insufficiency. 14
  • Key Recommendations

  • Use of Propofol for Sedation: Effective and safe for bronchoscopy in both adults and children, with close monitoring. (Evidence: Strong 126)
  • Combination of Opioids and Benzodiazepines: Provides balanced sedation and analgesia for bronchoscopy procedures. (Evidence: Moderate 4)
  • Application of Sedation-Agitation Scales: Essential for guiding sedative dosages and ensuring patient safety during procedures. (Evidence: Moderate 8)
  • Consider Interventional Techniques: Laser therapy and stent placement for managing bronchial obstructions effectively. (Evidence: Expert opinion 14)
  • References

    1 Wang L, Wang M, Xu R, Li J, Cao Y, Ji F. Comparative analysis of guidelines and recommendations for sedation during flexible bronchoscopy: a narrative review. European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society 2025. link 2 Antony T, Acharya KV, Acharya PR, Kotian H, Kamath S. Clinical usefulness of nebulized dexmedetomidine for conscious sedation in daycare flexible bronchoscopy in Southern India. Indian journal of pharmacology 2024. link 3 Uzunhan O, Yıldırım MB, Eser C, Öztarhan K, Çelik A. A rare cause of air-leak syndrome in a premature newborn: a case report. BMC pediatrics 2023. link 4 Minami D, Takigawa N. Safe sedation during diagnostic and therapeutic flexible bronchoscopy in Japan: A review of the literature. Respiratory investigation 2023. link 5 Service JA, Bain JS, Gardner CP, McNarry AF. Prospective Experience of High-flow Nasal Oxygen During Bronchoscopy in 182 Patients: A Feasibility Study. Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology 2019. link 6 Gunathilaka PKG, Jat KR, Sankar J, Lodha R, Kabra SK. Propofol versus Fentanyl for Sedation in Pediatric Bronchoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Indian pediatrics 2019. link 7 Lee H, Choe YH, Park S. Analgosedation during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy: comparing the clinical effectiveness and safety of remifentanil versus midazolam/propofol. BMC pulmonary medicine 2019. link 8 Zhong L, Shen K, Zhai S, Chen T, Tao Q, Chen L et al.. Application of sedation-agitation scale in conscious sedation before bronchoscopy in children. Medicine 2019. link 9 Hong KS, Choi EY, Park DA, Park J. Safety and Efficacy of the Moderate Sedation During Flexible Bronchoscopic Procedure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Medicine 2015. link 10 Yendamuri S. Massive Airway Hemorrhage. Thoracic surgery clinics 2015. link 11 Schlatter L, Pflimlin E, Fehrke B, Meyer A, Tamm M, Stolz D. Propofol versus propofol plus hydrocodone for flexible bronchoscopy: a randomised study. The European respiratory journal 2011. link 12 Grendelmeier P, Kurer G, Pflimlin E, Tamm M, Stolz D. Feasibility and safety of propofol sedation in flexible bronchoscopy. Swiss medical weekly 2011. link 13 Motherby H, Nicklaus S, Berg A, Ohler S, Ross B, Sarbia M et al.. Semiautomated monolayer preparation of bronchial secretions using AutoCyte PREP. Acta cytologica 1999. link 14 Batori M, Gallinaro LS, Forte A, Turano R, Melluso J, Ruggieri M. The palliative treatment of bronchial carcinoma with lasertherapy and stent. Rivista europea per le scienze mediche e farmacologiche = European review for medical and pharmacological sciences = Revue europeenne pour les sciences medicales et pharmacologiques 1996. link 15 Kayser K, Drlicek M, Rahn W. Aids of telepathology in intra-operative histomorphological tumor diagnosis and classification. In vivo (Athens, Greece) 1993. link 16 Prabhu MB, Barber D, Cockcroft DW. Endobronchial hamartoma. A case report. South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde 1992. link 17 Kumarasinghe P, Jayasundera CI. Cytological diagnosis of bronchial malignancies using the fibreoptic bronchoscope. The Ceylon medical journal 1992. link 18 Roy T, Mukherjee A, Choudhuri M, Munshi AD. Metastatic and non-metastatic complications in a case of bronchial carcinoma. The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 1991. link 19 Sotile SC, Brady MB, Brogdon BG. Accessory cardiac bronchus: demonstration by computed tomography. The Journal of computed tomography 1988. link90070-7) 20 Lemer J, Rozenberg B, Isserles S. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with general anesthesia using a transvector for ventilation. Chest 1986. link 21 Wood JR, Wood SM, Lee YC, Bloom SR. Neurotensin-secreting carcinoma of the bronchus. Postgraduate medical journal 1983. link 22 Mazzuca M, Lhermitte M, Lafitte JJ, Roussel P. Use of lectins for detection of glycoconjugates in the glandular cells of the human bronchial mucosa. The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society 1982. link 23 Powell F, Mackey JP. Bronchial carcinoma and hyperkeratosis palmaris et plantaris. Postgraduate medical journal 1981. link 24 Morice AH, Wood JR. Chyluria associated with bronchial carcinoma. Postgraduate medical journal 1981. link 25 Zanetta G, Zanoni M, Colombo F. Argentaffin pulmonary tumorlets. Tumori 1979. link 26 Sharp JC, Carty MJ, Logan RW. Maternal bronchial carcinoma and its possible relation to neonatal hypoglycaemia. Postgraduate medical journal 1972. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Comparative analysis of guidelines and recommendations for sedation during flexible bronchoscopy: a narrative review.Wang L, Wang M, Xu R, Li J, Cao Y, Ji F European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society (2025)
    2. [2]
      Clinical usefulness of nebulized dexmedetomidine for conscious sedation in daycare flexible bronchoscopy in Southern India.Antony T, Acharya KV, Acharya PR, Kotian H, Kamath S Indian journal of pharmacology (2024)
    3. [3]
      A rare cause of air-leak syndrome in a premature newborn: a case report.Uzunhan O, Yıldırım MB, Eser C, Öztarhan K, Çelik A BMC pediatrics (2023)
    4. [4]
    5. [5]
      Prospective Experience of High-flow Nasal Oxygen During Bronchoscopy in 182 Patients: A Feasibility Study.Service JA, Bain JS, Gardner CP, McNarry AF Journal of bronchology & interventional pulmonology (2019)
    6. [6]
      Propofol versus Fentanyl for Sedation in Pediatric Bronchoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Gunathilaka PKG, Jat KR, Sankar J, Lodha R, Kabra SK Indian pediatrics (2019)
    7. [7]
    8. [8]
      Application of sedation-agitation scale in conscious sedation before bronchoscopy in children.Zhong L, Shen K, Zhai S, Chen T, Tao Q, Chen L et al. Medicine (2019)
    9. [9]
    10. [10]
      Massive Airway Hemorrhage.Yendamuri S Thoracic surgery clinics (2015)
    11. [11]
      Propofol versus propofol plus hydrocodone for flexible bronchoscopy: a randomised study.Schlatter L, Pflimlin E, Fehrke B, Meyer A, Tamm M, Stolz D The European respiratory journal (2011)
    12. [12]
      Feasibility and safety of propofol sedation in flexible bronchoscopy.Grendelmeier P, Kurer G, Pflimlin E, Tamm M, Stolz D Swiss medical weekly (2011)
    13. [13]
      Semiautomated monolayer preparation of bronchial secretions using AutoCyte PREP.Motherby H, Nicklaus S, Berg A, Ohler S, Ross B, Sarbia M et al. Acta cytologica (1999)
    14. [14]
      The palliative treatment of bronchial carcinoma with lasertherapy and stent.Batori M, Gallinaro LS, Forte A, Turano R, Melluso J, Ruggieri M Rivista europea per le scienze mediche e farmacologiche = European review for medical and pharmacological sciences = Revue europeenne pour les sciences medicales et pharmacologiques (1996)
    15. [15]
      Aids of telepathology in intra-operative histomorphological tumor diagnosis and classification.Kayser K, Drlicek M, Rahn W In vivo (Athens, Greece) (1993)
    16. [16]
      Endobronchial hamartoma. A case report.Prabhu MB, Barber D, Cockcroft DW South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde (1992)
    17. [17]
      Cytological diagnosis of bronchial malignancies using the fibreoptic bronchoscope.Kumarasinghe P, Jayasundera CI The Ceylon medical journal (1992)
    18. [18]
      Metastatic and non-metastatic complications in a case of bronchial carcinoma.Roy T, Mukherjee A, Choudhuri M, Munshi AD The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (1991)
    19. [19]
      Accessory cardiac bronchus: demonstration by computed tomography.Sotile SC, Brady MB, Brogdon BG The Journal of computed tomography (1988)
    20. [20]
    21. [21]
      Neurotensin-secreting carcinoma of the bronchus.Wood JR, Wood SM, Lee YC, Bloom SR Postgraduate medical journal (1983)
    22. [22]
      Use of lectins for detection of glycoconjugates in the glandular cells of the human bronchial mucosa.Mazzuca M, Lhermitte M, Lafitte JJ, Roussel P The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society (1982)
    23. [23]
      Bronchial carcinoma and hyperkeratosis palmaris et plantaris.Powell F, Mackey JP Postgraduate medical journal (1981)
    24. [24]
      Chyluria associated with bronchial carcinoma.Morice AH, Wood JR Postgraduate medical journal (1981)
    25. [25]
      Argentaffin pulmonary tumorlets.Zanetta G, Zanoni M, Colombo F Tumori (1979)
    26. [26]
      Maternal bronchial carcinoma and its possible relation to neonatal hypoglycaemia.Sharp JC, Carty MJ, Logan RW Postgraduate medical journal (1972)

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