title: Local anesthetic techniques for bronchoscopies.
abstract: Local anesthetic techniques are often preferable to general anesthesia for bronchoscopies since these examinations are mostly undertaken as outpatient procedures. To be successful bronchoscopy under local anesthesia must satisfy three criteria: the technique used must produce adequate anesthesia: the procedure must be safe: and the technique should be easy for the patient as well as for the physician. Local anesthesia of the respiratory tract for these procedures can be achieved by laryngotracheal spraying or ultrasonic nebulizer administration of lidocaine. For fiberoscopic procedures lidocaine can also be administered through the fiberoscope. When the local anesthetic techniques are supplemented with light sedation, the procedure is easier and more acceptable to the patients. Using small doses of diazepam, flunitrazepam, or midazolam i.v. one can produce amnesia for the procedure and still discharge the patients 2 h after the procedure with a responsible adult. In many cases local anesthesia supplemented by intravenous sedation is a proper alternative and should be preferred to general anesthesia in ambulatory practice for diagnostic bronchoscopies.
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008722:Methods; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008012:Lidocaine