The Role of Bronchoscopy in the Diagnosis and Management of Patients with SARS-Cov-2 Infection

Bronchoscopy has several major diagnostic and therapeutic indications in pulmonology. However, it is an aerosol-generating procedure that places healthcare providers at an increased risk of infection. Now more than ever, during the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the infe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Davide Biondini, Marco Damin, Martina Bonifazi, Elisabetta Cocconcelli, Umberto Semenzato, Paolo Spagnolo, Stefano Gasparini, Marina Saetta, Elisabetta Balestro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-10-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/11/10/1938
Description
Summary:Bronchoscopy has several major diagnostic and therapeutic indications in pulmonology. However, it is an aerosol-generating procedure that places healthcare providers at an increased risk of infection. Now more than ever, during the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the infectious risk during bronchoscopy is significantly raised, and for this reason its role in diagnostic management is debated. In this review, we summarized current evidence regarding the indications for bronchoscopy and the measures that should be applied to decrease risk exposure. Indeed, seeing the long-lasting period of the pandemic, resuming standard of care for all patients is required.
ISSN:2075-4418