Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy

Where and by whom is a bronchoscopy procedure completed?

Bronchoscopies are completed at the Functional Testing Unit by the Doctor Fatima Maria ALMEIDA, specialist consultant pulmonologist. Ex-Paris Hospital Practitioner, Ex-Assistant Clinic Head (Hôpital Foch Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hôpital St Louis Thoracic Oncology Unit, HEGP Pulmonology ward), Doctor ALMEIDA was also part-time Hospital Practitioner, until April 2017, at the Hôpital Robert Ballanger, Aulnay-sous-Bois.

What is a Bronchoscopy?

A bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to examine the interior of your trachea, bronchi and some other parts of your lungs. The bronchoscope is a flexible tube, about the width of a pencil, which is introduced into your trachea and bronchi via the nose (or occasionally the mouth). The fibre-optics of the bronchoscope allow the doctor to have a good view of the condition of your bronchial tree and observe any abnormalities.

Other procedures may be completed during the bronchoscopy:

– collect secretions for the analysis of bronchial cells, identification of abnormal bacteria or cells;

– perform one or a number of biopsies, painless collection of small samples of bronchi or lungs;

– perform a broncho-alveolar lavage where liquid is injected into the bronchi and then removed in order to analyse the number and type of cells collected by the process.

What happens during a bronchoscopy?

Preparation

You must not eat or drink for 4 to 6 hours before the procedure. When you arrive, the doctor and assisting nurse will explain the procedure to you. Do not hesitate to ask any questions that you may have. You will also be asked if you have already undergone an endoscopy examination, is you are taking any medication or if you have any allergies.

The procedure

You will generally be seated in a comfortable chair with arm rests. The doctor will apply a local anaesthetic, lidocaïne spray to your throat and nose, to reduce any discomfort caused by the contact of the device with the mucous membranes; you will feel your throat gradually become numb. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, the doctor will carefully introduce the bronchoscope into your nose; this will be painless but may cause some discomfort. Once the tube has entered the doctor will add further anaesthetic. Once the tube is inside your bronchi, a complete and accurate examination of your respiratory tract will usually tale about 10 to 15 minutes. An additional small probe may be placed in your other nostril to administer oxygen. Once the examination is complete, the tube will be carefully removed such that you feel no discomfort..

After the examination

Since your throat has been anaesthetised, you will be asked to refrain from eating or drinking for another 2 hours or so, the effect of the anaesthetic on your throat may cause food or drink to go down the wrong way when you swallow.

If a biopsy has been performed you may cough up a small amount of blood over the next 24 hours, this is normal. Similarly, you may feel some discomfort at the back of your throat, or have trouble speaking; this will go after 1 or 2 days.

Returning home (or to your hospital room)

If you return home on the same day, you must not drive yourself. Once at home you should rest for at least one day. Do not drive or drink any alcohol. You can return to your normal activity on the next day. If you are hospitalised, a porter will take you back to your room and the nursing staff of the ward will look after you.

The results

In most cases the doctor will be able to give you an immediate idea of their observations if you wish. But the analysis of any samples taken may take a few days. Once all of the results have been received, the doctor will tell you what treatment, if any, is advised during a specialist pulmonology consultation.