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Palatine Heart Center
360 Station Drive, Suite 210
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Phone (815) 477-8900
Fax (815) 477-7160 |
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Satelite Location
Willow Ponds
900 West Main Street (RT22), Suite 100
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Phone (815) 477-8900
Fax (815) 477-7160 |
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| Bronchoscopy |
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| Bronchoscopy |
| Bronchoscopy is a technique of visualizing the inside of your airways. An instrument called a bronchoscope is inserted into the airways, usually through the nose or mouth, that allows the practitioner to examine the patient's airways for abnormalities such as foreign bodies, bleeding, tumors, infection or inflammation. Specimens may be taken from inside the lungs: biopsies, fluid (bronchoalveolar lavage)or endobronchial brushing. The doctor inserts a flexible bronchoscope through either the nose or mouth either in the sitting or lying down position. |
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| Once the bronchoscope is inserted into the upper airway, the doctor examines the vocal cords. The doctor continues to advance the instrument to the trachea and further down into the bronchus, examining each area as the bronchoscope passes. |
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| If doctors discover an abnormality, they may sample it, using a brush, a needle or forceps. They also may sample a large number of alveoli. Doctors can obtain a specimen of lung tissue (transbronchial biopsy) often using a real-time x-ray (fluoroscopy). |
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| The procedure is usually performed in a special room designated for such procedures for outpatients or possibly in your room if you are hospitalized. |
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| Test preparation |
| You will be given antianxiety and antisecretory medications (to prevent oral secretions from obstructing the view about a half an hour before the procedure. |
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| During the procedure, you may receive a drug to make you sleepy, although conscious. Medication will also be given to numb the upper airways. |
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| You will be monitored during the procedure with periodic blood pressure checks, continuous ECG monitoring of the heart and oxygen measurement. Monitoring is particularly important when the patient remains conscious during the procedure. |
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| Recovery |
| Under a brief period of observation. Nurses watch closely for up to 2-4 hours following the procedure, usually every 15 minutes. The patient is kept in a semi upright position and is continually assessed for respiratory difficulties. Monitoring continues until the effects of sedative drugs wear off and the gag reflex has returned. If a biopsy was performed, a chest x-ray will be taken to rule out any air leakage in the lungs (pneumothorax) after the procedure. Hospitalization may be required for the occurrence of any bleeding, air leakage (pneumothorax)or respiratory distress. |
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