Flexible bronchoscopy (pronounced bron-kos-ko-pee) is a procedure that enables your physician to examine the major air passages of the lungs. This allows your physician to evaluate your lungs and take small samples of tissue or fluid, if necessary. Usually the procedure is performed after you are mildly sedated and your nose or mouth is numbed. Your physician will then insert a bronchoscope, which is a flexible, lighted tube, about the width of a pencil, through your nose or mouth and into your windpipe. A small channel in the instrument allows tissue and fluid samples to be collected when appropriate.
Why Should I Have a Bronchoscopy?
There are many medical reasons for having a bronchoscopy. Common reasons include abnormal findings on a chest X-ray or CT scan (like a spot on the lung), or coughing up blood. Diseases of the lung, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or lung cancer, can be found by sampling lung fluid or tissue. Samples are sent to a laboratory for testing, and results may assist your doctor in making a diagnosis.
How Do I Prepare for a Bronchoscopy?
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- Your physician will review all the medications you are taking and may have you stop taking certain medications prior to the procedure. Certain medications can complicate the bronchoscopy procedure, so a complete review of your medication by the physician is necessary.
- If you are diabetic, your medication or insulin dose may need to be adjusted both before and after the procedure.
- Blood tests are necessary prior to the procedure to ensure you are safe to have a biopsy from bleeding stand point.
- Do not eat or drink anything (not even water) for six hours prior to the procedure. It is important that your stomach is empty well before the bronchoscopy to lessen certain risks, such as vomiting during the procedure. However, you may take your regular medications with a little water.
- Bring someone to drive you home, or arrange for alternate transportation. If you receive sedation during the procedure, you are not allowed to drive or travel by yourself for 12 hours after the procedure.
How is Bronchoscopy Performed?
Before the procedure begins, you will receive medication that will numb your mouth, nose and throat. The medication will help you relax, reduce any cough, and limit throat irritation. A small needle will be inserted into a vein so additional medications can be given.
Your nurse or physician will connect you to a heart and blood pressure monitor. You will be given extra oxygen through your nose during the exam. If needed, additional sedation may be given through the needle in your vein.
Your physician will then pass the bronchoscope through your mouth and throat, through your vocal cords to your windpipe, and into your lungs. When the tube passes through your vocal cords, you may feel the urge to cough or feel some minor discomfort. The feeling is not unusual and is temporary. Your physician will stop to let you catch your breath before continuing the examination.
During the procedure, medication will be given through the scope to help relieve any coughing. You can help by taking slow, shallow breaths through your mouth.
Do not talk during the procedure. Talking can make you hoarse or give you a sore throat after the procedure.
Occasionally, the examination is done with the aid of X-ray equipment to help your physician locate the exact area from which to take a sample. Pain is unlikely to occur during the procedure. A nurse or another health care professional will be present during the exam to assist you and the physician.
Bronchoscopy is a safe test that carries little risk. Complications are rare, but if they occur, they may include a collapsed lung, bleeding from the sample site, an allergic reaction to medicines, hoarseness, and slight fever. Only rarely do patients experience other, more serious complications, more serious complications such as respiratory failure.
You usually do not remember the procedure.
What Happens After a Bronchoscopy?
When the procedure is finished, you will be observed until you are awake enough to leave. Tell the nurse if you have any chest pain, difficulty breathing, or notice more than flecks of blood in your phlegm. It is normal to cough up a small amount of blood for 1 to 2 days after the procedure, but it should continue to improve.
Your blood pressure, pulse and breathing rate will be checked prior to your discharge. The needle in your vein will be removed, and a chest X-ray may be taken.
You cannot eat or drink anything for two hours after the procedure because your throat may still be numb.
Your physician will be happy to discuss any questions you may have regarding the examination and will tell you when to expect a report of the test results. It will take a few days to a week for the results to come back from the laboratory and the pathologist. You should have a follow up appointment within a week for the results.
If you have any questions or problems after your bronchoscopy, call your health care professional.
You can reference ACCP or ATS website for further information.