Flexible Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that lets doctors look inside air passages. It’s performed by a pulmonologist. During bronchoscopy, a thin tube (bronchoscope) is passed through your nose or mouth, down your throat and into your lungs. The tube has a light source and camera at the distal end to visualize where ever it reachs.
Video-bronchoscope is the instrument equipped to display images from distal end over to a computer monitor and may display high definition (HD) images, making it convenient to recognize subtle changes.
How its done?
The procedure is done under sedation and local anaesthetic use, therefore it’s a painless procedure. Proper use of these drugs would make the entire experience pain free and without discomfort. After patient is relaxed, the scope is inserted through nose or mouth , advanced into throat and down into airway crossing the vocal cords. The process might generate some cough, however in expert hands and appropriate drug use cough or any other untoward reactions are minimal. Initial major air-way divisions are visualized on both sides, abnormalities are noted and samples of biopsy / lavage (secretions/fluids) are collected through scope only. Entire procedure might take 15-20 minutes or more depending upon need of samples.