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Introduction: Flexible bronchoscopy is a technique that is usually performed with a certain degree of sedation, wich is induced either by a pneumologist with specific training in sedation or by an anesthetist. Material and Methods: Observational study carried out in patients who underwent a flexible bronchoscopy in a terciary university hospital. Patients were divided according to the physician who performed the sedation, in pneumologist group (PG) or anesthetist group (AG). The characteristics of the patients and anesthetic risk, procedure performed, dose of propofol, level of sedation and complications of the procedure were recognized. Results: Fifty patients were included in each group. There were no differences in age, respiratory or hemorrhagic risk. The ASA preanesthetic risk being higher in patients sedated by anesthesiology (AG 2.58 ± 0.61 vs PG 2.14 ± 0, 78, p = 0.003). The dose of propofol used in AG was higher, although when it was related to the duration of the procedure, no significant difference was found. In the level of sedation measured by the MAAS sedation scale, statistically significant differences were found (PG 3.04 ± 0.40 vs AG 3.42 ± 0.92, p = 0.009), although both are among the levels 3 and 4. One severe desaturation and one hypotensive episode were found in PG and two moderate desaturations in AG. The procedure was not suspended in any case. Conclusions: Sedation performed in our center by a pneumologist with a specific training in sedation is at least as safe as the performed by anesthetists.

Background: Sedation with propofol during bronchoscopy is controversial. Previously, anesthesiologists have been charge of procedural sedation and analgesia, but in the last years, certain numbers of proceduralist are managing propofol sedation during bronchoscopy. Now, there is more evidence that proceduralist-administered sedation is safe. We analized the safety and tolerance of propofol sedation in our patients. Methods: 178 patients (62.31±14.83 years and medium ASA risk II), submitted a diagnostic bronchoscopy in our hospital with propofol sedation, administered by a pulmonologist with advanced capacity of reanimation care. We analize propofol dose administered, procedural duration, tolerance of sedation with MOAS scale and complications arising from sedation, also attending patient9s comorbidities. Results: Propofol dose was 134.18 miligrames (range 30-380) with a procedural duration of 15.04 minutes (range 5-60) and patient tolerance of sedation with MOAS scale of 2. 50 patients (28.08%) have pulmonary disease (17.9% COPD, 6.1% asthma) and 43.82% have cardiac disease (28.72% hypertension, 2.8% cardiac arrhythmia 5.6% LV function decreased, 5.6% cardiac vasculopathy). About the complications arising from sedation, we found 1 cardiac arrhythmia spontaneously resolved, 1 hypertensive crisis treated with urapidil, 1 moderate desaturation resolved with high level of oxygen and 1 severe desaturation that required orotraqueal intubation during the procedure. No complications in 97.75% procedures (174 patients). There were no deaths related to sedation. Conclusions: Sedation with propofol in bronchoscopy by pulmonologists is considered to be safe and well tolerated by patients.