What is a bronchoscopy?
A bronchoscopy is a procedure done under sedation that allows your physician to examine your airways or breathing passages in your lungs. During this procedure, a thin tube, called a bronchoscope, is passed through your nose or mouth down your throat and into your lungs.
Who needs a bronchoscopy?
The most common reasons for needing a bronchoscopy are due to a persistent cough, infection or something unusual seen on a chest X-ray. It is most commonly done by a pulmonologist to find the cause of your lung problem. Reasons for needing a bronchoscopy include:
- Diagnosis of a lung problem.
- Identification of a lung infection.
- Biopsy of tissue from the lung.
- Removal of mucus, foreign body or obstruction in the airways or lung.
- Placement of a small tube to hold airway open.
- Treatment of a lung problem, such as bleeding or a collapsed lung.
- Check the lymph nodes in the chest.
What are risk factors of a bronchoscopy?
As with all procedures, there are certain risks associated with a bronchoscopy. Although they are uncommon and usually minor, they are more likely if airways are inflamed or damaged by disease. Complications can be related to the procedure itself or the sedative or topical numbing medication. The most common complications include:
- Bleeding.
- Collapsed lung.
- Fever.
- Infection.
What should I expect during a bronchoscopy?
Prior to your procedure, you may need to stop taking certain medications for several days before. You may be asked not to eat or drink for four to eight hours before the procedure. You will be hooked up to monitors to track your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels during the procedure. A sedative medication will be administered to help you relax, and a numbing medication will be sprayed into your throat.
The bronchoscope, a very thin tube with a light and small camera, will slowly be placed down the back of your throat through the vocal cords and into the airways. Although it might be uncomfortable, it shouldn’t hurt. Samples of tissue and fluids may be taken during the procedure performed by devices passed through the bronchoscope.
What should I expect after a bronchoscopy?
Following your procedure, it is normal to feel numbness in your mouth and throat for a few hours. When the numbing medication has worn off, you will be allowed something to eat and drink. Mild sore throat, hoarseness and a cough or muscle aches is normal in the days following. Warm water gargles can help with the discomfort.
Your provider will discuss your results with you one to three days after the procedure. From there, treatment options will be discussed based on the findings of the bronchoscopy. Additional tests or procedures may be needed.
Contact your provider right away if you experience:
- Fever and/or chills that lasts more than 24 hours.
- Increasing chest pain.
- Trouble breathing.
- Coughing up more than a small amount of blood.
- Severe nausea or vomiting.
- Pain that is not controlled by the provided medication.