A bronchoscope is used during a bronchoscopy to examine the airways to the lungs. There are two types of bronchoscopes used, flexible and rigid, which determine whether the procedure is performed under conscious sedation or general anesthesia. The flexible bronchoscope can remove small samples of tissue, while the rigid bronchoscope is used for larger tissue samples or in cases of bleeding or suffocation. Recovery time is usually quick, but hospitalization may be required in some cases.
A bronchoscope is an instrument used during a medical procedure called a bronchoscopy to examine the throat, windpipe, larynx, vocal cords, and airways proceeding to the lungs. In most cases, a bronchoscopy is a procedure performed under at least conscious sedation so that the patient’s throat is relaxed and the person is not gagging on the endoscope. There are two types of bronchoscopes used, and the one used by the pulmonologist tends to depend on the reason for the bronchoscopy. The choice influences whether a bronchoscopy will be performed under conscious sedation or under general anesthesia.
The first type of bronchoscope is called a flexible bronchoscope. It’s a long tube with a light on the end and a camera. The camera captures real-time images of the airways, which are usually recorded, to help detect any problems or blockages. This type of endoscope can remove small samples of tissue from the airways if polyps are found or growths are present. Bronchoscopies performed with the flexible bronchoscope are usually done under conscious sedation, when you are not fully awake and probably won’t remember most of the procedure.
When a pulmonologist suspects that there is bleeding in the airways, masses blocking the airways, or that they may need to take a larger tissue sample, they will likely use a rigid bronchoscope. Because it is not a flexible rod, rigid endoscope bronchoscopy is almost always performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. The rigid endoscope is especially required if bleeding is suspected as the flexible endoscope may not be able to visualize and record the airways very well under these conditions.
A rigid scope can also be used in the event of a suffocation. A person who has their airway blocked by a piece of food might have a rigid bronchoscopy because the endoscope has the ability to remove food. Like the flexible scope, it has a light on the end inserted into the mouth and airways and is attached to a camera so your doctor can see your airways and find any existing problems.
If you’re having a bronchoscopy, you should check with your doctor about any medications you take that may be causing problems during the test. In general, it’s very important to let your doctor know if you’re taking any type of blood thinner. You can expect your throat to feel slightly to very sore after the test. This feeling usually goes away within a few hours of waking up.
Most people go home the same day after having a bronchoscopy, regardless of the type of bronchoscope used. Of course, this depends on the condition for which bronchoscopy is being performed. Occasionally, people will need to spend a night or more in the hospital recovering from a bronchoscopy if large amounts of tissue have been removed with a rigid endoscope.
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