title: Complications and discomfort of bronchoscopy: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify bronchoscopy-related complications and discomfort, meaningful complication rates, and predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed on 8 February 2016, using a search strategy including the PICO model, on complications and discomfort related to bronchoscopy and related sampling techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search yielded 1,707 hits, of which 45 publications were eligible for full review. Rates of mortality and severe complications were low. Other complications, for instance, hypoxaemia, bleeding, pneumothorax, and fever, were usually not related to patient characteristics or aspects of the procedure, and complication rates showed considerable ranges. Measures of patient discomfort differed considerably, and results were difficult to compare between different study populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More research on safety aspects of bronchoscopy is needed to conclude on complication rates and patient- and procedure-related predictors of complications and discomfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; elise.leiten@uib.no.
authors.forename: Elise Orvedal
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Leiten
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Einar Marius Hjellestad
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Martinsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Per Sigvald
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bakke
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.|Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Tomas Mikal Lind
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Eagan
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Rune
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grønseth
keywords: adverse events; diagnostic bronchoscopy; informed consent; patient satisfaction; safety