title: Bronchoscopic practice in Japan: a survey by the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy in 2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ensure the safety of bronchoscopic practice, the Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy conducted a national survey to investigate the current state of procedure for this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire survey about procedures carried out during the whole of the year 2010 was mailed to 538 facilities accredited by the society.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were obtained from 511 facilities (95.0%). Rigid bronchoscopes were used in only 18.5% of the facilities, while mobile/thin bronchoscopes were used in ≥ 50%, and fluoroscopy systems were used in 99.8%. Biopsies were performed after discontinuation of therapy in patients receiving antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants in 96.7% and 97.4% of the facilities, respectively. Atropine was administered for premedication in 67.5% of the facilities, a decrease from previous surveys. Intravenous sedation was given in 36.1% of the facilities. In 21.9% of these, the procedure was conducted in the outpatient clinic for ≥ 70% of patients. A bronchoscope was orally inserted in ≥ 70% of patients in 95.7% of the facilities. Intravenous access was maintained during the examination in 92.5% of the facilities, oxygen saturation was monitored during examinations in 99.0%, oxygen was administered in 97.6% and resuscitation equipment was available in 96%. In 98.6% of the facilities, bronchoscopes were disinfected using an automatic washing machine, with glutaraldehyde used in 42.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Japan-specific characteristics of bronchoscopic practice were identified. Whether procedures used in Japan meet international guidelines with respect to safety should be monitored continuously. In addition, a Japanese evidence-based consensus is needed.
authors.affiliation: Safety Management Committee, Japan Society for Respiratory Endoscopy, Tokyo, Japan. asano-fm@ceres.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Motoi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoe
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohsaki
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasada
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Senba
authors.forename: Shozo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: Kazumitsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohmori
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007564:Japan; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives