What is Bronchoscopy, Diagnostic?

Bronchoscopy is the visual examination of the air passages leading into the lungs. The exam is done with a bronchoscope, a long, thin tube with a camera on the tip.

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Bronchoscopy is most often done for the following reasons:

• Diagnose a lung disease or infection
• Examine obstructions and secretions
• Obtain a tissue sample, called a biopsy
• Obtain a secretion sample
• Investigate the source of a persistent cough or blood that is being coughed up
• Check for a foreign object (eg, gum, nut, or other object) that may have accidentally been inhaled rather than swallowed

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a bronchoscopy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Bleeding
• Collapsed lung
• Irregular heart rate
• Infection
• Sore and swollen throat

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
• Coughing up more than a teaspoon of blood
• Severe nausea or vomiting
• Increased or unusual wheezing
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given

In case of emergency, CALL 911.