Is bronchoscopy in patients with haemoptysis and normal computed tomography of the chest unlikely to result in significant findings?
CT should be used as first-line examination in patients with a history of haemoptysis. Furthermore, in patients above 40 years of age with positive findings of any kind on the CT, further examination with FOB is indicated. However, if the chest CT is without pathological findings, it is most unlikely that FOB will reveal anything of significance.
The analysis shows that the German DRG system requires further research. However, to date this is limited by poor data availability. Compared to other DRG systems the German system shows a weak performance. The incorporation of some of the used variables as well as an increasing international knowledge transfer might help to further improve the German DRG system.