bronchoscopy - Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital

reflex will be numb, you are not allowed to eat
or drink for at least 2 hours after the
bronchoscopy. After two hours, your nurse will
check your gag reflex and if it has returned, you
may try to drink; then eat.
What are the side effects and risks of a
bronchoscopy?
Because of the sedatives you may have
received, you may feel drowsy for several hours.
Your mouth may feel dry during, and shortly
after, the procedure. Some people also
experience a slight sore throat, blood-tinged
saliva, or a low grade fever.
If you experience difficulty catching your breath,
bleeding from the nose, blood in your cough, or
chest pain and discomfort, go to the nearest
medical facility for help.
PGS/IMD/01/01/E
Patient Guide Series
GETTING A
BRONCHOSCOPY
If you have questions or concerns about the
procedure contact the Hospital at +92 42 3590
5000 Ext 4392 or 4393 from 8am to 5pm. For
emergencies, please contact +92 42 3590 5000
Ext 5136 or 5137.
There is a small risk of developing problems
such as a drop in the level of oxygen during the
procedure, where your doctor will give you
oxygen if necessary. You may experience minor
bleeding or pneumonia. A rare, more serious
side effect is when air or gas collects in the
spaces around the lungs, which can cause one
or both lungs to collapse. This condition can be
easily treated or may go away by itself.
Are there special instructions to follow
after the procedure?
If you develop a fever higher than 100 degrees
Fahrenheit, take a fever-reducing drug every 4
hours as recommended by your doctor or nurse.
If your fever lasts longer than 24 hours, call the
Hospital at +92 42 3590 5000 Ext 5136 or 5137.
If you have a sore throat, take throat lozenges
as needed.
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre
7A Block R-3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92 42 3590 5000 Ext 4392 or 4393
www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk
Shaukat Khanum
Memorial Cancer Hospital
and Research Centre
What is a bronchoscopy?
A bronchoscopy is a routine diagnostic
procedure that allows your doctor see inside
your lungs and possibly to get tissue to examine.
The procedure uses a bronchoscope, which is a
small, narrow tube with a camera at the tip.
Who might have a bronchoscopy?
Those individuals who have symptoms of a lung
problem may have a bronchoscopy to help make
an exact diagnosis. Patients with known lung
disease may need this test from time to time to
check the status of their disease. For
comparison, a bronchoscopy may also be done
on people with normal lungs.
nurse will attach patches to your chest to
monitor your heart, a blood pressure cuff to
monitor your blood pressure, and a clip on your
finger to check how much oxygen is in your
blood.
put into one of your nostrils to let the
bronchoscopy tube pass through to examine
your entire airway. If your doctor notes an
abnormality, a sample will be taken from the
area for examination.
After this is done, you will breathe a mist of
anaesthesia or numbing medication through your
mouth. You will breathe this mist through your
mouth from a tube attached to an oxygen flow meter
until this mist is gone. Alternatively, the nurse may
give you a topical anaesthetic to gargle or the back
of your throat will be sprayed with anaesthetic.
What happens after?
A small amount of numbing medication, will be
When the procedure is over, a nurse will take
you back to your room. Your vital signs such as
temperature, heart beat, and blood pressure
will be monitored. Your nurse will also ask you
to take deep breaths and cough gently. This
helps clear your lungs of the fluid used during
the procedure. Because your throat and gag
How do I prepare for it?
Before the procedure, your doctor will order some
tests. These tests may include a chest x-ray, blood
work, pulmonary function test, or physical exam.
Also, you will be asked to sign an informed
consent, which will be signed by your doctor.
Do not eat or drink anything 8 hours before the
procedure. The morning of the procedure, a small,
intravenous tube or catheter will be put into one of
your arm veins. This tube will be used to give you
fluids and medication to help you relax. You may get
an injection of medications into your muscle to help
control coughing and secretions in your mouth.
What happens during a bronchoscopy?
When you are in the bronchoscopy suite, a
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