Bronchoscopy in Neuro ICU

Bronchoscopy has been well established for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the critically ill patients. The main indications for flexible bronchoscopy in neuro intensive care unit are the visualization of the airways, sampling for diagnostic purposes, and management of the artificial airways. The decision to perform fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) can only be made by judging between potential risks and benefits because of the fragile nature of the neuro critically ill patient. Flexible bronchoscopy-associated serious adverse events are inevitable in cases of a lack of expertise or appropriate precautions. However, with adequate preparation and close monitoring, the procedure can be safely performed in critically ill neuro patients.