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bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that helps determine the cause of a lung problem. In this procedure, a thin tube containing a miniature camera is inserted through the nose or mouth, down the throat and into the lungs, providing physicians with a detailed look at the lungs and air passages.

The procedure can also be used to collect tissue samples, remove obstructions such as a tumor or mucus, treat problems such as bleeding or narrow airways, or to check lymph nodes in the chest.

A bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that helps determine the cause of a lung problem. In this procedure, a thin tube containing a miniature camera is inserted through the nose or mouth, down the throat and into the lungs, providing physicians with a detailed look at the lungs and air passages.

The procedure can also be used to collect tissue samples, remove obstructions such as a tumor or mucus, treat problems such as bleeding or narrow airways, or to check lymph nodes in the chest.

The team at Pulmonary Consultants of San Antonio guides patients through all necessary prep and follow-up to the procedure. Your board-certified physician will discuss the results of the bronchoscopy and recommend customized treatment plans based on the findings.

Click here to request an appointment or call us at 210-692-0361.

Questions & Answers

What is a bronchoscopy?

A bronchoscopy is a procedure that evaluates and treats your lungs. During this procedure, a thin tube containing a miniature camera goes down your throat and windpipe to reach your lung airways.

The camera sends real-time pictures to a nearby monitor where the Pulmonary Consultants of San Antonio team can view your larynx, trachea, major air passages, and smaller branches of your air passages.

There are two types of bronchoscopy, flexible and rigid. A flexible bronchoscopy uses a bendable tube that can examine all your lung passages (large and small) in detail, while a rigid bronchoscopy uses a hard tube that can examine only the larger airways.

With this detailed view, the team can make an accurate diagnosis. If needed, they can also treat problems within your lungs at that time.

When might I need a bronchoscopy?

There are many reasons you might need bronchoscopy for diagnosis or treatment, including:

  • Chronic cough
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Tumors
  • Bronchial cancer
  • Airway obstructions
  • Airway narrowing
  • Inflammation
  • Infections
  • Abscess

The team can perform several procedures during bronchoscopy, including stent placement, abscess drainage, mucus removal, blood removal, tumor removal, and tissue sampling for testing (biopsy).

The particular issues you’re having can dictate the type of bronchoscopy you need. In general, the team usually performs flexible bronchoscopy more often than rigid bronchoscopy. A rigid bronchoscopy is usually for more extensive procedures.

What should I do before a bronchoscopy?

Before a bronchoscopy, the Pulmonary Consultants of San Antonio team gives you detailed procedure prep guidelines. That usually includes a careful review of all your medications and may include temporarily changing or discontinuing certain drugs that could interfere with the procedure.

What happens after bronchoscopy?

After a bronchoscopy, you may have a chest X-ray before you go home. It’s normal to have some throat discomfort. You can eat and drink once your gag reflex returns, but you may have residual soreness as you swallow for a couple of days.

You’ll usually have a follow-up appointment at Pulmonary Consultants of San Antonio within a week. At that appointment, the team discusses diagnosis, treatment, and bronchoscopy results in detail. If you need further treatment, the team can recommend a tailored solution based on your bronchoscopy results.

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210-692-0361
10007 Huebner Road, Bldg 4
San Antonio, TX 78240
FAX: 210-692-0151

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Monday: 8am-4:30pm
Tuesday: 8am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 8am-4:30pm
Thursday: 8am-4:30pm
Friday: 8am-4:30pm
Saturday: Closed
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