Role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in early diagnosis of non-resolving pneumonia

Abstract

Non-resolving pneumonia are not so infrequent with a clinical scenario where multiple diagnostic modalities are required to arrive at a diagnosis. We aimed to assess the role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in early diagnosis of non-resolving pneumonia. This is a prospective observational study done in department of pulmonary medicine from January 2020 to December 2020. 90 cases of non-resolving pneumonia cases attending the department of pulmonary medicine, AMC were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. These cases were subjected to fiber optic bronchoscopy. BAL, bronchial brushings and washings were collected and analyzed. Among 90 cases of non-resolving pneumonia studied, 50 to 60 years age group were commonly affected accounting to 33%. Male predominance was observed with 73.3%. Smoking was common observation accounting to 51%. Bacterial pneumonias were found to be commonest etiology followed by tuberculosis, bronchogenic carcinoma and fungal infection accounting to 46.6%; 22.2%; 17.7%; 1.1% respectively. Diagnosis was indeterminate in 12.2% of cases. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is an excellent aid in diagnosis of non-resolving pneumonia thus enabling to differentiate bacterial pneumonias as well as fungal infection and pulmonary tuberculosis. It also helps to rule out bronchogenic carcinoma.