Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north India

Abstract Introduction Non-resolving pneumonia (NRP) poses a significant diagnostic challenge, often requiring advanced investigations for accurate identification of underlying causes. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB), along with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), is in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amir Abdullah Dar, Syed Mudasir Qadri, Saleem Javaid Wani, Ghulam Nabi Dhobi, Vivek Kumar, Nazia Mehfoz, Sonaullah Shah, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43168-025-00411-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849688051449593856
author Amir Abdullah Dar
Syed Mudasir Qadri
Saleem Javaid Wani
Ghulam Nabi Dhobi
Vivek Kumar
Nazia Mehfoz
Sonaullah Shah
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat
author_facet Amir Abdullah Dar
Syed Mudasir Qadri
Saleem Javaid Wani
Ghulam Nabi Dhobi
Vivek Kumar
Nazia Mehfoz
Sonaullah Shah
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat
author_sort Amir Abdullah Dar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Non-resolving pneumonia (NRP) poses a significant diagnostic challenge, often requiring advanced investigations for accurate identification of underlying causes. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB), along with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), is increasingly recognized for its diagnostic utility. Patients and methods This prospective observational study was designed to evaluate the role of FOB in determining the aetiology of NRP among patients at a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir. It was conducted on 70 patients diagnosed with NRP between December 2018 and November 2020. Clinical, radiological, and microbiological investigations were performed, followed by FOB. Findings from BAL and TBLB were analyzed to determine diagnostic outcomes. Results The mean age of participants was 55.9 ± 17 years, with males comprising 58.6%. Pulmonary tuberculosis (38.6%) was the most common etiology, followed by malignancy (24.3%), bacterial pneumonia (20%), and fungal pneumonia (8.5%). Squamous cell carcinoma (20%) was the predominant malignancy, especially in smokers. The overall diagnostic yield of FOB was 91.4%. No major procedural complications were reported. Conclusion FOB, combined with BAL and TBLB, is a highly effective diagnostic tool for NRP, offering valuable insights into infectious and non-infectious etiologies. It is particularly beneficial for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis and centrally located malignancies, highlighting its significance in improving patient outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach in cases of NRP, especially in resource-limited settings.
format Article
id doaj-art-e894d4ebddfc4649bed308ce26df8ffb
institution DOAJ
issn 2314-8551
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
spelling doaj-art-e894d4ebddfc4649bed308ce26df8ffb2025-08-20T03:22:08ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Bronchology2314-85512025-05-011911610.1186/s43168-025-00411-4Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north IndiaAmir Abdullah Dar0Syed Mudasir Qadri1Saleem Javaid Wani2Ghulam Nabi Dhobi3Vivek Kumar4Nazia Mehfoz5Sonaullah Shah6Fayaz Ahmad Bhat7Department of Internal Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Internal Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical SciencesAbstract Introduction Non-resolving pneumonia (NRP) poses a significant diagnostic challenge, often requiring advanced investigations for accurate identification of underlying causes. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy (FOB), along with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), is increasingly recognized for its diagnostic utility. Patients and methods This prospective observational study was designed to evaluate the role of FOB in determining the aetiology of NRP among patients at a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir. It was conducted on 70 patients diagnosed with NRP between December 2018 and November 2020. Clinical, radiological, and microbiological investigations were performed, followed by FOB. Findings from BAL and TBLB were analyzed to determine diagnostic outcomes. Results The mean age of participants was 55.9 ± 17 years, with males comprising 58.6%. Pulmonary tuberculosis (38.6%) was the most common etiology, followed by malignancy (24.3%), bacterial pneumonia (20%), and fungal pneumonia (8.5%). Squamous cell carcinoma (20%) was the predominant malignancy, especially in smokers. The overall diagnostic yield of FOB was 91.4%. No major procedural complications were reported. Conclusion FOB, combined with BAL and TBLB, is a highly effective diagnostic tool for NRP, offering valuable insights into infectious and non-infectious etiologies. It is particularly beneficial for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis and centrally located malignancies, highlighting its significance in improving patient outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach in cases of NRP, especially in resource-limited settings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43168-025-00411-4Fibreoptic bronchoscopyNon resolving pneumoniaDiagnostic and therapeutic significance
spellingShingle Amir Abdullah Dar
Syed Mudasir Qadri
Saleem Javaid Wani
Ghulam Nabi Dhobi
Vivek Kumar
Nazia Mehfoz
Sonaullah Shah
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat
Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north India
The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
Fibreoptic bronchoscopy
Non resolving pneumonia
Diagnostic and therapeutic significance
title Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north India
title_full Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north India
title_fullStr Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north India
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north India
title_short Unveiling the hidden causes: the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non-resolving pneumonia - a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north India
title_sort unveiling the hidden causes the crucial role of fiber optic bronchoscopy in diagnosing non resolving pneumonia a prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north india
topic Fibreoptic bronchoscopy
Non resolving pneumonia
Diagnostic and therapeutic significance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43168-025-00411-4
work_keys_str_mv AT amirabdullahdar unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia
AT syedmudasirqadri unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia
AT saleemjavaidwani unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia
AT ghulamnabidhobi unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia
AT vivekkumar unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia
AT naziamehfoz unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia
AT sonaullahshah unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia
AT fayazahmadbhat unveilingthehiddencausesthecrucialroleoffiberopticbronchoscopyindiagnosingnonresolvingpneumoniaaprospectivestudyconductedinatertiarycarehospitalofnorthindia