Methods
We used databases from our previous study, where a retrospective chart
review was performed of all endoscopic procedures (flexible bronchoscopy
and flexible / rigid laryngoscopy, all under general anesthesia with
spontaneous breathing) in pediatric patients with DS from April 2011
until June 2019. As a control group, we selected children without
significant underlying disorder undergoing endoscopy for similar
indications (selected from charts dating from January 2012 until January
2015).
In both groups, we checked for each patient whether a BAL sample for
microbiological investigation was obtained during the endoscopic
procedure. Of course this is only possible if a bronchoscopy was
performed. If this was the case, results of cultures and / or PCR
testing were listed. All positive cultures (even with small numbers of
colony forming units per ml) were taken into account, in order to
determine colonization. These results were subsequently categorized and
compared by statistical analysis in SPSS. We used a Chi square test to
compare the different categories of microbiological results and detect
if the differences between both cohorts are statistically significant.
The level of statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.