Video Bronchoscopy

Video Bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to examine your airways. Your doctor will thread an instrument called a bronchoscope through your nose or mouth and down your throat to reach your lungs. The bronchoscope is made of a flexible fiber-optic material and has a light source and a camera on the end. Most bronchoscopes are compatible with color video, which helps your doctor document their findings.

Bronchoscopy procedure

Once you’re relaxed, your doctor will insert the bronchoscope into your nose. The bronchoscope passes from your nose down to your throat until it reaches your bronchi. The bronchi are the airways in your lungs. Brushes or needles may be attached to the bronchoscope to collect tissue samples from your lungs. These samples can help your doctor diagnose any lung conditions you may have. Your doctor may also use a process called bronchial washing to collect cells. This involves spraying a saline solution over the surface of your airways. The cells that are washed off of the surface are then collected and looked at under a microscope.

Types of imaging used in a Video Bronchoscopy

Advanced forms of imaging are sometimes used to conduct a bronchoscopy. Advanced techniques can provide a more detailed picture of the inside of your lungs: During a virtual bronchoscopy, your doctor uses CT scans to see your airways in more detail. During an endobronchial ultrasound, your doctor uses an ultrasound probe attached to a bronchoscope to see your airways. During a fluorescence bronchoscopy, your doctor uses a fluorescent light attached to the bronchoscope to see the inside of your lungs.

Risks of a Video Bronchoscopy

Allergy tests may result in mild itching, redness, and swelling of the skin. Sometimes, small bumps called wheals appear on the skin. These symptoms often clear up within hours but may last for a few days. Mild topical steroid creams can alleviate these symptoms. On rare occasions, allergy tests produce an immediate, severe allergic reaction that requires medical attention. That’s why allergy tests should be conducted in an office that has adequate medications and equipment, including epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis, which is a potentially life-threatening acute allergic reaction.
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