To explore the efficacy of fiberoptic bronchoscopy combined with ambroxol in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with respiratory failure and its effects on blood gas indicators, pulmonary function and level of blood lactate.

154 patients with COPD and respiratory failure who were treated in the hospital between January 2019 and January 2022 were selected as the research subjects, and they were randomly divided into control group (n=77) and observation group (n=77) by the single-double ball method. The control group was given routine treatment combined with ambroxol while the observation group was given fiberoptic bronchoscopy combined with ambroxol. The efficacy [modified British Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT)], blood gas indicators [blood oxygen saturation (SaO₂), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂)], pulmonary function indicators [peak expiratory flow (PEF), percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to predicted value (FEV₁/FVC%), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), oxygen consumption (VO₂)], thoracic and lung compliance indicators [lung compliance (Cl), total compliance (Ct), thoracic compliance (Cth)], inflammatory factors [procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP)] and arterial blood lactate were observed in the two groups of patients after 2 weeks of treatment.

After 2 weeks of treatment, the efficacy (mMRC score, CAT score), PaCO₂, partial pulmonary function indicators(VCO₂, VO₂), partial inflammatory factors (PCT, CRP) and arterial blood lactate in the two groups were reduced compared with those before treatment, and the above indicators in observation group were lower than those in control group (all P<0.05). The levels of partial blood gas indicators (SaO₂, PaO₂), FEV₁/FVC%, chest and lung compliance indicators (Cl, Ct, Cth) were enhanced compared with those before treatment, and the levels in observation group were higher than those in control group (all P<0.05).

Combining fiberoptic bronchoscopy with ambroxol can enhance the clinical efficacy, improve the blood gas level and pulmonary function, and effectively reduce the levels of inflammatory factors and arterial blood lactate of patients with COPD complicated with respiratory failure.