Bronchodilators Show No Benefit in Bronchoscopy Patients

A new study suggests that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who are undergoing bronchoscopy, should not be premedicated with bronchodilators.

Researchers from the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, gathered 120 patients with COPD and randomized them into three groups to receive salbutamol, placebo, or nothing prior to bronchoscopy. Pulmonary function tests were performed on all patients both before and after the procedure.

Results showed that in all groups, FEV1 decreased significantly post-bronchoscopy and that the percentage of patients experiencing postbronchoscopic deterioration was similar. Researchers conclude that patients with COPD do not need to be premedicated with short-acting ß-agonists prior to bronchoscopy. This study appears in the March issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Source: American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)

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