Sedation in fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

In particular, in the study by Garcia-Rio et al1 the FEVL values of the population with the pneumothorax were particularly low (56±10%), which implies a greater association with hyperinfla¬ tion. Unfortunately, the incidence of patients with a pathologic FEVX (<70%) was not given (it was 19% in our population). The different results in predictivity of FEV1 seem to be conflicting; but without the calculation of residual volume, it is not possible to know whether the patients with altered FEVX and pneumo¬ thorax also had significant alveolar hyperinflation. With regard to the conclusion of our study, we do not disagree with Garcia-Rio et al, but we state again that spirometric examination with the determination of static and dynamic lung volumes is useful prior to PNB.2