Serious complications were uncommon in a review of sedated bronchoscopy
Across published clinical trials, serious events were reported infrequently. Differences between sedation staff and protocols do not establish which approach is safest for an individual patient.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found low reported rates of death, intensive care admission and escalation of care for breathing or cardiovascular events. Rates differed across staff categories, but the abstract cannot separate staff effects from differences between the procedures and patients they managed. These results do not predict an individual patient's risk.
The abstract gives no adjusted comparisons separating sedation protocols from patient or procedure differences. Its physical-status analysis compares groups of studies, so it cannot establish how well that status predicts individual risk.
What researchers found
Deaths within 24 hours of bronchoscopy
Reported across sedated bronchoscopy procedures; this is an overall procedure rate without a direct comparison group.
Staff comparisons need context
Studies were grouped by who administered sedation and whether propofol was used. Escalation events were more frequent in anesthesiologist groups, while intensive care admissions were more frequent with nurse-administered sedation.
Other comparisons
Complication rates were slightly lower in protocols without propofol. The comparison of patient physical-status groupings found no statistically significant difference, which does not prove equal risk or rule out clinically important differences.
The original publication
A Systematic Review of the Safety of Sedation during Flexible Bronchoscopy.
Matthes S, Treml M, Hübner RH et al.
Respiration · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 40956775
- Record checked
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