Bronchoscopy

Types of bronchoscope

There are two types of bronchoscope: flexible and rigid. Both types come in different widths.

A rigid bronchoscope is a straight tube. It’s only used to view the larger airways. It may be used within the bronchi to:

• Remove a large amount of secretions or blood
• Control bleeding
• Remove foreign objects
• Remove diseased tissue (lesions)

A flexible bronchoscope is used more often. Unlike the rigid scope, it can be moved down into the smaller airways (bronchioles). The flexible bronchoscope may be used to:

• Give oxygen
• Suction out secretions
• Take tissue samples (biopsy)
• Put medicine into the lungs
• Give laser therapy

Reasons you might need bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy may be done to diagnose and treat lung problems such as:

• Tumors or bronchial cancer
• Airway blockage (obstruction)
• Narrowed areas in airways (strictures)
• Inflammation and infections such as tuberculosis (TB), pneumonia, and fungal or parasitic lung infections
• Interstitial pulmonary disease
• Causes of a persistent cough
• Causes of coughing up blood
• Spots seen on chest X-rays
• Vocal cord paralysis

Diagnostic procedures or treatments that are done with bronchoscopy include:

• Biopsy of tissue
• Collection of sputum
• Fluid put into the lungs and then removed (bronchoalveolar lavage or BAL) to diagnose lung disorders
• Removal of secretions, blood, mucus plugs, or growths (polyps) to clear airways
• Control of bleeding in the bronchi
• Removing foreign objects or other blockages
• Laser therapy or radiation treatment for bronchial tumors
• Placement of a small tube (stent) to keep an airway open tent placement
• Drainage of an area of pus (abscess)

Your health care provider may also have other reasons to advise a bronchoscopy.