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Over the years doctors have developed a wide range of tests and procedures to diagnose disease. A procedure known as fiber-optic bronchoscopy has been developed in order to directly visualize the airways leading from your mouth to your lungs. These airways are known as bronchi. In addition to its use as a diagnostic procedure, it is possible for bronchoscopy to be used in the direct treatment of a medical problem.

There are many reasons why someone may need to have a bronchoscopy done. Oftentimes bronchoscopy is done for a person who has had an abnormal chest x-ray. Findings on the chest x-ray may require the doctor to have a direct look at the airways. People who have a persistent cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, or are coughing up blood may require a bronchoscopy to directly visualize the airways. A bronchoscopy done for this reason may be able to spot an ulcer or a tumor. In addition, small tissue samples could be taken during a bronchoscopy. These samples can be sent to a lab for further study.

The procedure for bronchoscopy itself is relatively simple and as few complications. Before a bronchoscopy is done blood tests are taken to ensure that the person has no problems related to blood clotting. This is done because one of the few side effects of bronchoscopy is some bleeding if the camera scratches the inside lining of the bronchi. People who take medications which thin the blood, such as Coumadin or aspirin, may be asked to discontinue the use of these medications a couple of days before the procedure. Immediately after the procedure is done, these medications can be restarted.

Doctors will ask a person who is about to undergo a bronchoscopy to not eat or drink for at least eight hours before the procedure is done. This is done in order to lessen the chance that a person may aspirate the contents of their stomach into the lungs during the bronchoscopy. Many bronchoscopies are done on an outpatient basis, meaning that a person is not required to stay in the hospital. Because some sedation is given during the exam, a person will need to have a ride home after the bronchoscopy is complete.

A bronchoscopy is typically done in a specially designed room. For people not admitted to the hospital, it is not necessary to go to a full-fledged operating room to have a bronchoscopy done. Most people getting a bronchoscopy will be given medications which will make them somewhat drowsy and sleepy. This is done because the broncoscope itself can be quite irritating

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