Management of perioperative pain for outpatient bronchoscopy

The growth of hospital-based and freestanding ambulatory surgery centers has enabled a dramatic increase in the variety of procedures being performed on an outpatient basis. Bronchoscopy is a procedure that is fitting for such centers, though the patient population presenting for bronchoscopy can be challenging to manage due to multiple chronic comorbidities. This procedure is generally short and requires minimal medication for pain per se, and thus does not typically require extensive post-procedure monitoring except for standard post-anesthetic care if general anesthesia is used. The aim of this chapter is to present options for periprocedural pain control for outpatient bronchoscopy. Medication regimens to achieve maximal comfort while minimizing potential adverse events and promoting efficient recovery times will be discussed. Common adverse effects of these medications, and some of the remedies available, will also be reviewed.