Bronchoscopy Examination of Airways

Pre-Procedure Steps

• Waiting Room: Patients are taken from the waiting room to the examination room.
• Throat Numbing: Physician or nurse numbs the throat with a local anesthetic spray.
  • Throat starts to feel swollen and stiff.
  • Swallowing becomes more difficult.
• Anesthetic Fluid: Dripped into the throat and trachea.
  • Tongue may be pulled slightly outwards, causing coughing or gagging.

Procedure

• Bronchoscope Insertion: A camera-equipped tube (bronchoscope) is inserted into the airways via the nose or mouth.
  • Mouth guard used if inserted via the mouth.
  • Extra oxygen may be given through a tube in the nose, which can cause an itch.
• Breathing: Patients can breathe normally through nose or mouth.
• Camera Usage: Physician uses the camera to inspect the inside of the trachea and its branches.
  • Sample Collection: Mucus, scraping, or tissue may be collected for lab examination.
  • Airway Rinsing: Sometimes airways are rinsed with fluid.
• Bronchoscope Removal: Physician slowly removes the bronchoscope from the airways.
  • Procedure can feel uncomfortable but usually doesn’t hurt.

Post-Procedure

• Relaxation and Comfort: Various sleeping aids available in addition to throat sedation.
  • Refer to the animated film "Sedation for Bronchoscopy" for more information.
• Duration: The procedure lasts approximately 15 to 30 minutes.