title: Predictors of oxygen desaturation in patients undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxygen desaturation is not uncommon during bronchoscopy. We sought to identify factors predictive of desaturation during flexible bronchoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over eight months, we enrolled 137 randomly selected patients who were undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy at our medical center. The patients' oxygen saturation was monitored on their arrival and during the procedure by finger pulse oximetry. Desaturation was defined as an overall saturation nadir of < 90% or an episode of decreased saturation of 5% from the baseline regardless of whether the patient was receiving supplemental oxygen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The need for oxygen supplementation before the procedure was predictive of a higher rate of desaturation episodes (73.9% vs. 50%, p = 0.036). Although all interventional procedures or their complications can cause desaturation, the specific type of procedure was the most important predictor of desaturation (lavage, 88.9%; washing, 43.8%; brushing, 15.2%; biopsy, 10%). A low peak expiratory flow rate before the procedure seemed to be predictive of a high desaturation rate in patients undergoing lavage or washing during bronchoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggested that age, sex and baseline oxygen saturation were not predictors of desaturation. We should be reminded of the possibility of desaturation during every procedure, especially in patients who need supplemental oxygen before bronchoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen-Feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yung-Che
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Hsiu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Wei-Tong
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Woon
authors.forename: Chia-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Hsueh-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Meng-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen