Introduction
Flexible bronchoscopy is a well-established tool for the diagnosis and interventional treatment of respiratory diseases. It is widely used by physicians for safety, portability, and effectiveness. This procedure is usually performed under sedation and analgesia.1 Generally, bronchoscopy is considered a low-risk procedure for healthy patients or those with mild, stable systemic diseases.2 However, patients with confirmed hypoxic respiratory insufficiency present a unique challenge for the bronchoscopist. Hypoxemia is common during bronchoscopy, with risk heightened in patients with hypoxic respiratory failure.3 Statistically, hypoxemia is observed in 67% of cases during therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy when intravenous general anesthesia and autonomous ventilation are employed.4
Esketamine, the S-enantiomer…