Cardiopulmonary responses to the tracheobronchial suction with a fiberoptic bronchoscope during and after anesthesia.

The cardiopulmonary responses to endobronchial suction with a fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB suction) during and after anesthesia were compared in 12 patients underwent elective surgeries. FOB suction for 1 mm was performed during enflurane anesthesia (1.5% enflurane in oxygen) with muscle relaxant (anesthetized stage) and after anesthesia during spontaneously breathing of oxygen (awake stage). FOB suction lowered PaO2 to a greater extent in the awake than in the anesthetized stage. Mean PaO2 decreased from 414 to 111 torr in the awake and from 447 to 333 in the anesthetized stage. During suction, PaCO2 slightly increased in both stages. In response to FOB suction, heart rate increased significantly in the awake stage (P < 0.001), while mean blood pressure increased significantly in the anesthetized stage (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the cardiopulmonary responses to FOB suction for 1 min during and after anesthesia differed. The procedure might be less dangerous during anesthesia.