Bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to see your airways and lungs.

During a bronchoscopy, your doctor inserts a bronchoscope, that is a thin tube attached with a light and a camera on the end, through your nose or mouth.

Your doctor uses the bronchoscope to see your airways and to take photographs or videos of them. They may also take a sample of tissue, called a transbronchial biopsy, to analyse.

The bronchoscope will probably be in your airways for 20 minutes or less and may be slightly uncomfortable.

The results of your bronchoscopy help your doctor to make a diagnosis and plan the best treatment for you.

A bronchoscopy is used to diagnose or treat a condition of the airways or lungs.

Your doctor might recommend a bronchoscopy if you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, a chronic cough, or coughing up blood. It may also be used if you have had a collapsed lung several times, or if you have an abnormal chest x-ray or CT scan result.

Bronchoscopy is used to help diagnose lung disease, infection and tumours as well as the cause of a fever.

Bronchoscopy can also be used to treat an airway problem such as removing a foreign object, fluid or mucus or treating cancer. 

Yes, you normally have mild sedation for a bronchoscopy. You will be awake but feel relaxed and drowsy during the bronchoscopy procedure.

You will have a local anaesthetic before your bronchoscopy procedure so that you do not feel pain. This is usually in the form of a spray or a gargle. Alternatively, you might also be given a local anaesthetic injection.

A bronchoscopy procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis so you can go home once your surgeon is happy for you to do so.

You will be able to go back to work or your daily routine after 24 hours of your bronchoscopy procedure. Due to having a sedative, you should not drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours.

After about two hours, when you can cough, known as your cough or gag reflex, you can eat and drink.

Your throat may be sore especially when swallowing for a few days.

It is not recommended that you fly for one month after having a transbronchial biopsy.

Your doctor will discuss the findings of your bronchoscopy and biopsy results if taken and their recommended follow-up treatment.

You will receive a formal quotation price following your consultation with one of our expert surgeons when a bronchoscopy procedure is recommended for you. This formal quote for your bronchoscopy procedure will be valid for 60 days and includes unlimited aftercare.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. Bronchoscopy procedure is covered by most medical insurance policies. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before starting your treatment.

We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your transbronchial lung biopsy surgery yourself. These include:

• Interest-free finance – 0% interest, no deposit and affordable monthly instalments. .
• All-inclusive Total Care - one-off pre-agreed payment for access to all the treatment you need for complete reassurance. .
• Pay as you go – flexible funding to pay for treatment as and when costs arise. Often used if your treatment costs are difficult to assess.