Bronchoscopy

Contents:

• Medical Video: Bronchoscopy
  

• Complications

  What complications can occur?

  • short breathing
  • bleeding
  • high body temperature
  • sore throat, hoarseness, or cough with phlegm
  • allergic reaction
  PASTE QUESTION HERE?
  

Medical Video: Bronchoscopy

Definition

What is bronchoscopy?

Bronchoscopy is a safe and effective way to find out problems in the airways (bronchi) using a telescope. Bronchoscopy is a good way to find out if there are problems in your respiratory tract.

When do I need to undergo bronchoscopy?

You will be advised to do a bronchoscopy procedure by your doctor which aims to:

• look for causes of problems in the respiratory tract, such as bleeding, difficulty breathing, or long-term (chronic) coughing
• take your tissue samples for other tests, such as x-rays and chest CT scans, to show problems in the lungs or lymph nodes in the chest
• diagnose lung disease by collecting tissue or mucus (sputum) as a sample for examination
• diagnose and determine the level of lung cancer
• remove objects that block the respiratory tract
• examine and treat the respiratory tract
• control bleeding
• detect threat areas in the respiratory tract that narrow and cause problems
• treat airway cancer using radioactive material (brachytherapy)

Prevention & warning

What should I know before doing a bronchoscopy?

Bronchoscopy is generally a safe procedure. Although these complications are rare, the doctor will discuss the risks with you. However, you may not want to do this test or your test results will not help, if you experience:

• problem that makes your neck unable to elongate
• biopsy samples are too small to diagnose
• collected tissue in a biopsy taken, so there is a possibility that the cancer is not detected

Are there alternatives to bronchoscopy?

X-rays, scans, or biopsies (tissue removal) may provide information on the cause of a health problem.

Process

What should I do before bronchoscopy?

You should consult with your doctor about the treatment you are taking, allergies to any medication, including anesthesia, or health conditions before carrying out this operation. Feel free to discuss with your doctor about this medical procedure.

Then the doctor will tell you to fast eating and drinking before the biopsy is done. Follow the instructions given by your doctor or the scheduled biopsy is canceled. If the doctor tells you to take the medication before this operation, just drink it with a sip of water.

How is the bronchoscopy process?

If deemed necessary, your doctor may offer you tranquilizers so that you feel comfortable. Bronchoscopy usually takes less than 15 minutes. The doctor will examine the hole into your lungs with a flexible telescope (bronchoscope). Your doctor will use a bronchoscope to examine your airways. To help make a diagnosis, the doctor can do a biopsy and insert a small amount of fluid in the lungs and then throw it away.

What should I do after bronchoscopy?

If you are given a sedative, the effect will usually disappear in about two hours. The health team will tell you what was found during the bronchoscopy process and discuss with you treatment or follow-up needed. Here are general things you must remember:

• Do not eat or drink anything for 1 to 2 hours, until you are able to swallow something without choking. After that, you can eat the food as usual, starting with a little water
• spit out saliva until you are able to swallow something without choking
• do not drive for at least 8 hours after the procedure
• no smoking, at least 24 hours. You can return to work the next day unless you are advised otherwise.

Complications

What complications can occur?

• short breathing
• bleeding
• high body temperature
• sore throat, hoarseness, or cough with phlegm
• allergic reaction

PASTE QUESTION HERE?

PasteTextHere
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.