[Contribution of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary dragging]. / Apport de la fibroscopie bronchique dans le diagnostic des pneumopathies traînantes.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchoscopy is recommended into the exploration of chronic lung diseases. This one is expensive and invasive. We conducted this study in order to assess the benefit of the bronchoscopy in the etiologic diagnosis of chronic lung diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was retrospective, descriptive and analytical, using medical records of outpatients and in patients who has done the bronchoscopy in Pneumology Clinic, Fann hospital, Dakar from January 2010 to December 2014. RESULTS: We have reported 159 cases. The sex ratio was 2.2. Middle age was 44 years. Fever was found in 32.7%. Alveolar syndrome was found in 64.8%. The white blood cells (WBC) were normal in 80.7%. Bronchoscopy was contributive in 74.1%. Specimen analysis isolated banals germs in 69.2%, mainly bacteria in 51.6%. Parasitology of the fluid of broncho-alveolar lavage was positive in 28.6%. CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopy stills a use full exploration while diagnosing chronic lung diseases. It should be systematic in chronic lung diseases with or not fever, this, when sputum microscopy a sputum PCR are negative.