Bronchoscopy in Uremic Patients

Abstract

Uremia is associated with an increased risk of bleeding by virtue of alteration in platelet adhesion. Pulmonologists are frequently called upon to perform flexible bronchoscopy in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. The high blood urea nitrogen levels may predispose these patients to a high risk of bleeding complications with bronchoscopic procedures. We carried out a literature review to evaluate the myth that bronchoscopy is unsafe in uremic patients.