Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a short and painless procedure through which a doctor examines the inside of the lungs,including the bronchi  i.e. the main pathways into lungs.

WHY IS BRONCHOSCOPY DONE?

A bronchoscopy is used to diagnose:

-a lung disease

- tumour

-chronic cough

-infection

Bronchoscopy  can also allow the  doctor to deliver medication to ailing  lungs or remove an object caught in the airways, like a piece of food.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF  IMAGING USED IN A BRONCHOSCOPY?

Advanced forms of imaging can provide a detailed picture of the inside of lungs.

1. virtual bronchoscopy - doctor uses a CT scan to see the airways in more detail

2. endobronchial ultrasound- doctor uses an ultrasound probe attached to a bronchoscope 

3. fluorescence bronchoscopy- doctor uses a fluorescent light attached to the bronchoscope 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR BRONCHOSCOPY?

- patient must not eat or drink anything for 6 hours prior to the test

- ongoing medicines must be taken with small sips of water with doctor’s consent

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE BRONCHOSCOPY? 

• patient changes into a hospital gown and is made to sit in a chair or lie on the examination table
• an IV (Intravenous) is put in arm vein
• some relaxation medicine might be given 
• blood pressure,oxygen and heart beat rates are monitored 
• during the test, patient might be administered oxygen 
• mouth and nose are sprayed with numbing medications
• doctor puts the bronchoscope into a patient's nose or mouth to reach bronchi
• brushes or needles may be attached to the bronchoscope to collect tissue samples from lungs
• patient may feel the tube in the throat or the need to cough
• this won’t bar ability to swallow or breathe
• doctor will keep the patient engaged talking to him
• patient must not talk during the test to prevent sore throat
• mucous and a tissue sample is removed,  if needed
• apparatus is removed

Interpretation 

Depending on the specific condition, the doctor may find one or more of the following conditions:

-Blood discrepancy

-Mucus 

-Infections

-Swelling

-Airways Blockage

-Tumour

 After the Test

• Nurse monitors the patient for app. 1 hour 
• Nearly about 2 hours, anaesthesia wears off 
• Patient may resume eating and drinking
• Traces of a sore nose or throat, a hoarse voice or a cough
• Absolutely normal to cough up a bit of blood
• Test results are sent to the doctor

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

Doctor needs to be immediately consulted, if : 

•  Running a  Fever 
•  Trouble Breathing
•  Chest Pain
•  Bleeding, especially if a biopsy is done

Very rare but potentially life-threatening risk of bronchoscopy includes heart attack and lung collapse.