Background and objective
Bronchoscopy is an airborne particle‐generating procedure. However, few methods for safe bronchoscopy have been developed. To reduce airborne particles during bronchoscopy, we created an ‘e‐mask’, which is a simple, disposable mask for patients. Our objective was to evaluate the e‐mask's protective ability against airborne particles and to assess respiratory adverse events and complications.
Methods
Patients with stage 2–4 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were excluded. We performed visualization and quantifying experiments on airborne particles with and without the e‐mask. We prospectively evaluated whether wearing the e‐mask during bronchoscopy was associated with the incidence of patients requiring >5 L/min oxygen to maintain >90% oxygen saturation, and patients with >45 mm Hg end‐tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) elevation, in addition to complications, compared to historical controls.
Results
In the visualization experiment, more than ten thousand times of airborne particles were generated without the e‐mask than with the e‐mask. The volume of airborne particles was significantly reduced with the e‐mask, compared to that without the e‐mask (p = 0.011). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that wearing the e‐mask had no significant effect on the incidence of patients requiring >5 L/min oxygen to maintain >90% oxygen saturation, (p = 0.959); however, wearing the e‐mask was a significant factor in >45 mm Hg EtCO2 elevation (p = 0.026). No significant differences in complications were observed between the e‐mask and control groups (5.8% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.395).
Conclusion
Wearing the e‐mask during bronchoscopy significantly reduced the generation of airborne particles during bronchoscopy without increasing complications.