The Use of Bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: CHEST/AABIP Guideline and Expert Panel Report.

CONCLUSIONS: The evidence on the role of bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic is sparse. To maximize protection of patients and HCW, bronchoscopy should be used sparingly in the evaluation and management of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections. In an area where community transmission of COVID-19 infection is present, bronchoscopy should be deferred for non-urgent indications and, if necessary to perform, HCW should wear personal protective equipment while performing the procedure even on asymptomatic patients.
PMID: 32361152 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Chest - April 29, 2020 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Wahidi MM, Shojaee S, Lamb CR, Ost D, Maldonado F, Eapen G, Caroff DA, Stevens MP, Ouellette DR, Lilly C, Gardner DD, Glisinski K, Pennington K, Alalawi R Tags: Chest Source Type: research