Bronchoscopy Procedure

Bronchoscopy is a diagnostic procedure for examining bronchia, the main airways of respiratory system with the help of a bronchoscope. It is used for visually examining abnormalities in the airways such as inflammation, tumors, bleeding and for taking tissue samples or mucus. Bronchoscopy is also used to remove any objects that block the passage of the airways.

A bronchoscope is a thin tubular instrument that can be flexible or rigid (metallic) fixed with a video camera and biopsy equipments on one end. Flexible bronchoscope is more common than rigid type as there is no need to give anesthesia. It is mostly used for removing small samples of tissues. Rigid type is carried out with general anesthesia. It is useful for removing large samples of tissues for biopsy and also for clearing any foreign objects, for example, presence of food in the airways.

Bronchoscopy is done for various reasons like difficulty in breathing, chronic cough, coughing up blood and abnormal chest X-ray. It is one of the most effective tests for diagnosing lung diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis and lung cancer. Usually, a bronchoscope is inserted either in the nose or mouth. However, insertion can be done by means of tracheotomy; a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the trachea on the neck to open an artificial airway.

Bronchoscopy Procedure: Prior Precautions

Certain precautions are to be taken before conducting a bronchoscopy procedure. The physician will collect information about the patient's illnesses, allergies and medications. Certain medications such as anticoagulants and aspirin should be stopped prior to bronchoscopy. The doctor will enquire if the patient has any problems related to blood clotting and may conduct clotting test if necessary. Other general tests include blood test, chest X-ray and breathing test.

Once the physician has assured that there are no complications after bronchoscopy, he/she will give approval for bronchoscopy. The patient should not eat or drink anything 8 hours prior to the procedure as it can cause vomiting and nausea. One can drink little amount of water before 2 hours of the procedure. A patient under diabetic medications may be asked to stop or take lower doses of medication on the day of bronchoscopy.

Bronchoscopy Procedure

Before actually starting a bronchoscopy procedure, local anesthesia is given inside the nose and mouth. During the procedure, monitoring of blood pressure, heartbeat and oxygen level is done. External oxygen is supplied if needed. General anesthesia may or may not be given depending upon the type of bronchoscope used. Now, the bronchoscope is inserted into the mouth, nose or through tracheotomy. More local anesthesia can be given for relieving cough. It is advisable not to talk in between the procedure as it can lead to sore throat afterwards. The doctor analyzes the inside structure of the airways and perform brushings, washings or remove samples of tissues for biopsies. After completion of these steps, the bronchoscope is removed quickly and carefully to avoid discomfort.

Bronchoscopy Procedure: Aftercare

After the procedure, the patient will be monitored for vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. He/she should not consume anything for about two hours. Initial diet should include liquid diet; patient can return to his/her normal diet under the prescription of the doctor.

It is normal to cough up little amount of blood for a few days after the procedure. Bronchoscopy is safe and very few cases of mild complications arise. Some of the temporary signs observed after procedure are fever, sore throat and discomfort due to allergy of the medications provided during the procedure. However, if the symptoms persist for a longer period or if there is excess coughing up of blood, then he/she should consult and seek advice from the concerned physician.

Result for the bronchoscopy procedure can be obtained after about one week. If there is any sign of abnormalities in the result of the bronchoscopy procedure, the physician will discuss with the patient and further treatment is done according to the severity of the problem.