Bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy procedure is where a doctor looks into the main tubes that carry air into the lungs. A thin flexible camera called a bronchoscope passes through the nose or mouth, down the back of the throat, into the windpipe(trachea) and down into the main air tubes called bronchi.

Samples from your lungs can be taken by passing fluid or tiny instruments down the camera tube – this does not hurt.

This test may be performed for a variety of reasons. Usually it is to take samples from the air tubes or lung to clarify a diagnosis of infection, inflammation, or growths/blockages in the air tubes. Your doctor will discuss the reasons to perform this test with you.