title: Use of bronchofiberscopy in management of severe thoracic trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic effect of bronchofiberscopy in the management of severe thoracic trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted on 207 consecutive patients with severe thoracic trauma enrolled in our hospital between January 2008 and June 2012. During the period, 488 bronchofiberscopies and lavages were done. The bronchofiberscope was inserted through tracheal incision (282), nasal cavity (149) and oral cavity (57). Intensive SaO2 monitoring as well as blood gas analysis were performed pre-, intra- and postoperatively. Simultaneously oxygen therapy or ventilatory support was given. Sputum culture was done intraoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diagnosis in 207 cases was confirmed by bronchofiberscopy. The result of sputum culture was positive in 78 cases. Lavage was performed on 156 cases. SaO2 significantly increased after bronchofiberscopies as well as lavages and PaO2 obviously improved 2 h after surgery (both P less than 0.05). Heart rate and respiratory rate decreased. There was no bronchofiberscopy-related death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bronchofiberscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of severe thoracic trauma, which can not only timely diagnose bronchial injury and collect deep tracheal sputum for bacterial culture but also effectively remove foreign body, secretion, blood and sputum crust in the airway, manage obstructive atelectasis and pneumonia, and significantly improve respiratory function and treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Chao-pu
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jin-mou
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chang-hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiao-li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xing-ji
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome