Bronchoscopy is a type of test that serves to assess the airways, by introducing a thin, flexible tube that enters the mouth, or nose, and goes to the lung. This tube transmits images to a screen, on which the doctor can observe if there is any change in the airways, including the larynx and the trachea.
Thus, this type of test can be used to help diagnose some diseases, such as atypical pneumonia or a tumor, but it can also be used to treat a lung obstruction, for example.
When can be ordered
Bronchoscopy can be ordered by the pulmonologist whenever there is suspicion of a disease in the lung that could not be confirmed through symptoms or other tests, such as X-rays. Thus, bronchoscopy can be ordered when:
- Pneumonia; Cancer; Airway obstruction.
In addition, people who have a persistent cough that does not go away with treatment or who do not have a specific cause may also need to have this type of test to identify the diagnosis and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
In cases of suspected cancer, the doctor performs a bronchoscopy with a biopsy, in which a small piece of the lung lining is removed to be analyzed in the laboratory and to confirm the presence of cancer cells and, therefore, the result may take a few days.
How to prepare for bronchoscopy
Before performing bronchoscopy, it is usually necessary to go between 6 to 12 hours without eating or drinking, being only allowed to drink as little water as possible to ingest any pills. Anticoagulant medications, such as aspirin or warfarin, should be stopped a few days before the test, to avoid the risk of bleeding.
However, the indications for preparation may vary according to the clinic where the test is going to be performed and, therefore, it is very important to talk to the doctor first, explaining what medication is usually used.
It is also important to take a friend or family member to the clinic, as, in many cases, light anesthesia is used to reduce discomfort and, in such cases, driving is not allowed for the first 12 hours.
What are the possible risks of the exam
Since bronchoscopy involves inserting a tube into the airways, there are some risks, such as:
- Bleeding: it is usually in very small amount, and can cause coughing up blood. This type of complication is more frequent when there is inflammation of the lung or when it is necessary to remove a sample for biopsy, returning to normal in 1 or 2 days; Lung collapse: it is a very rare complication that occurs when a lung injury occurs. Although treatment is relatively easy, you usually have to stay in the hospital. See more about what lung collapse is. Infection: can occur when there is an injury to the lung and usually causes fever and worsening symptoms of cough and shortness of breath.
These risks are very rare and usually easy to treat, however, the exam should only be done with the doctor's recommendation.
