Upreti S, Lowe D, Surani S, Patel D. Comparison of older and newer sedation agents in bronchoscopy. World J Methodol 2026; 16(1): 108379 [DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v16.i1.108379]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Salim Surani, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Texas A and M University, 40 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843, United States. srsurani@hotmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Mar 20, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 13, 2026
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Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Methodology
ISSN
2222-0682
Publisher of This Article
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Upreti S, Lowe D, Surani S, Patel D. Comparison of older and newer sedation agents in bronchoscopy. World J Methodol 2026; 16(1): 108379 [DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v16.i1.108379]
Shikha Upreti, Darrin Lowe, Dhaval Patel, Department of Internal Medicine, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, GA 30501, United States
Salim Surani, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Texas A and M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
Author contributions: Upreti S, Lowe D, Surani S, and Patel D contributed to the manuscript's writing and editing; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: None of the authors has any conflict of interest to disclose.
Corresponding author: Salim Surani, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Texas A and M University, 40 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843, United States. srsurani@hotmail.com
Received: April 14, 2025 Revised: May 21, 2025 Accepted: July 23, 2025 Published online: March 20, 2026 Processing time: 304 Days and 7.8 Hours
Abstract
Flexible bronchoscopy is an important diagnostic and therapeutic modality in pulmonary medicine. Appropriate sedation is essential for patient safety and comfort. Several agents, such as benzodiazepine and opiates (fentanyl, Midazolam, and morphine), have been used for conscious sedation and anxiolytics. Lately, there has been an influx of newer sedation agents that have been valuable in bronchoscopy because of their beneficial properties. For example, Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has been used during bronchoscopic procedures as an alternative to conventional sedatives or as an adjunct to them. Its bronchodilatory effects, minimal respiratory depression, sympathomimetic effect leading to hemodynamic stability, and analgesic properties make it particularly valuable in high-risk populations, including patients with respiratory compromise. Besides Ketamine, Esketamine, Dexmedetomidine, and other agents are also being used. This minireview explores the role of older and newer agents in bronchoscopy, highlighting their efficacy, safety profile, and potential advantages.
Core Tip: Bronchoscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. However, adequate sedation is necessary to ensure patient comfort and safety. The newer agents, such as Ketamine and Dexmedetomidine offer potential advantages in terms of reducing complications, maintaining hemodynamic stability, and improving procedural comfort compared to traditional agents like benzodiazepine and opioids. Exploring the benefits and side effects of these medications can enhance sedation strategies in bronchoscopy.
