Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the teaching hospital. Yield and complications.

We have prospectively analyzed the accuracy of and the rate of complications in 205 consecutive flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic procedures, as performed us the setting of a teaching hospital. The objectives of the procedure were achieved in 89 percent of the cases, but the yield varied widely among 12 diagnostic and therapeutic subgroups. Except in the case of the peripheral nodule, a malignant neoplasm was correctly diagnosed or excluded with a sensitivity and specificity that were greater than 90 percent. Diffuse pulmonary infiltrates in both immunosuppressed and normal hosts were histologically diagnosed via the fiberoptic bronchoscope in 83 percent (25) of the 30 cases. Transfiberoptic broncho-