Purposes of the Examination

Through bronchoscopy, physicians could directly see the normal structure and abnormal pathological changes of the airways. We usually evaluate the following conditions to determine whether there is a need for further bronchoscopy examination:

1. Abnormal discovery from chest X-ray,
2. Continued prolonged cough, bloody sputum, or local wheezing,
3. Biopsy test for diagnostic confirmation
4. Utilizing therapeutic bronchoscopy for foreign entity removal and bronchial lavage.

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Before the Examination

1. Carefully read through the consent form and take it to the examination room on the day
2. All food forbidden 4-6 hours prior to the examination, water included
3. If there are CT scan and X-ray from other general hospitals, bring them along on the day of the examination
4. Please take off your removable artificial teeth and glasses
5. Be at the examination room 10 minutes earlier

The Procedure

Prior the examination, the physician will spray anesthesia locally on the throat of the patient; if necessary tranquilizer might be applied to reduce discomfort feeling; because the physician would inset a soft and flexible scope via nostril to the bronchi for detail examination; biopsy is taken when necessary.

After the Examination

1. Two hours after the procedure, try to swallow saliva; if there is no choking or discomfort, sip some water and then you may start to resume regular intake.
2. If there is any discomfort around your throat after the examination, drink a bit of water to reduce discomfort.
3. It is common and normal to have some blood-tinged sputum a few days after the examination; if there is blood clot or fresh blood, and chest pain or acute sharp pain, notify nurses or doctors or go to the hospital as soon as possible.