- Diagnostics bronchoscopy
- Transbronchial lung biopsy under fluoroscopy
- Bronchoalveolar lavage
What is bronchoscopy?
Bronchoscopy is the examination of the airways that allows the doctor to inspect the trachea and bronchi (main airway passages) with
a fibreoptic instrument called a bronchoscope.
This allows us to examine the patient's airways for abnormalities such as foreign bodies,
bleeding, tumours, or inflammation.
Specimens from brushing, biopsy and lavage will be taken and send for the relevant tests.
Occasionally we need the help of fluoroscopy to guide us to the area concern for taking these samples.
The procedure usually is done as a day procedure under local anaesthesia and sedation. The patient is aware but drowsy.
You will need to fast for at least 6 hours before the procedure which is usually done in the endoscopy centre in the hospital.
You will be discharged on the same day.
Before the procedure, a local anaesthetic is given to numb the throat and nose followed by sedation given through a vein.
On the average the whole procedure will take half an hour. During this procedure, the blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen
saturation will be monitored. After the procedure you will be monitored for 4 hours in the day surgery room. Once fully awake you
be allowed to eat and drink. You will be reviewed before discharge.
A chest x-ray is needed to exclude air leak if transbronchial biopsy is carried out. Otherwise bronchoscopy is usually safe.
There may be some bleeding after the biopsy and hence your phlegm may be blood stained. Very rarely there is dyspnoea from laryngeal
oedema, laryngospasm and bronchospasm.
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