ABSTRACT
The potential benefits of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure should outweigh the potential risks. Bronchoscopy in patients who have preexisting ventilatory insufficiency or hypoxemia may initiate a cascade of respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological disas ters. Invasive acquisition of tissue specimens or aggressive therapy should be withheld in patients with thrombocytopenia, other clotting defects, or uremia or those who are receiv ing therapeutic anticoagulation or medications affecting platelet function. Rigid bronchos copy should not be attempted in patients for whom cervical hyperextension could be dan gerous.
