Video Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the tip to look directly inside the windpipe and the airways of the lungs. It allows the specialist to inspect the airways and to take samples of fluid or tissue, and is done under local anaesthetic with light sedation. At Allergy Asthma Foundation it is carried out by an experienced team using current equipment and protocols, with clear information given before, during and after so that you know what to expect at every stage.

This page explains why the procedure is done, how to prepare, what happens on the day, and what recovery and follow-up involve. Your own consultant will go through the details that apply to your situation and answer any questions before you agree to go ahead.

Why it is done

Video bronchoscopy is usually recommended for one or more of the following reasons:

• An abnormal shadow, narrowing or mass seen on a chest scan
• Coughing up blood
• A persistent cough or infection that has not been explained
• Collecting samples to diagnose infection, inflammation or cancer
• Clearing a mucus plug or a small foreign body

It is only offered when the expected benefit clearly outweighs the risks, and the decision is always made together with you. If a simpler test or treatment would answer the question or relieve the problem, that is tried first.

How to prepare

• You will have a check of your fitness for sedation, including your medicines and any breathing or heart problems.
• Do not eat for six hours before, and only sips of water up to two hours before.
• Pause blood thinners only on the team's instruction, and confirm the plan the day before.
• Arrange for an adult to take you home and stay with you overnight; you must not drive for 24 hours after sedation.
• Bring an inhaler if you use one, and a list of your medicines.

What happens on the day

1. You are given oxygen, monitoring and a sedative through a cannula; you stay drowsy butrousable.
2. Local anaesthetic is sprayed onto the back of the throat and into the airways.
3. The bronchoscope is passed through the nose or mouth and guided through the airways.
4. The airways are inspected and, as needed, washings, brushings or small biopsies are taken.
5. The scope is removed and you are moved to recovery for monitoring.

After the procedure

You rest in recovery for a few hours until the throat anaesthetic wears off; do not eat or drink until the team says it is safe. Most people go home the same day but must not drive for 24 hours. A mild sore throat and a small amount of blood-streaked phlegm for a day or two is normal.

You will be given written instructions covering activity, wound or puncture-site care where relevant, which medicines to restart and when, and the warning signs that mean you should contact us or attend the emergency department. A follow-up appointment or a phone review is arranged before you leave.

Benefits and risks

The main benefit is a clear answer or effective treatment that changes what happens next — a firm diagnosis, a blocked passage reopened, symptoms brought under control, or a condition safely monitored over time. For most people the procedure is straightforward and complications are uncommon.

No procedure is entirely without risk. The ones to be aware of for this treatment include:

• Sore throat, hoarse voice and cough for a day or so
• A brief drop in oxygen levels during the procedure, which the oxygen and monitoring manage
• If biopsies are taken, a small risk of bleeding or of an air leak from the lung
• Uncommonly, a chest infection or fever afterwards

The team is trained and equipped to recognise and manage these, and the consent discussion covers how likely each is in your case and what is done to reduce it.

Results and follow-up

The specialist can describe what was seen once you are awake; samples sent to the laboratory take a few working days for infection results and longer for tissue analysis. Your consultant explains what the result means in the context of your symptoms and examination, and sets out the next step — reassurance and discharge, a change of treatment, a further test, or a planned review. With your consent a summary is sent to your family doctor so that everyone caring for you is working from the same plan.

Questions patients ask

Do I need a referral?

You can book a consultation directly to discuss whether video bronchoscopy is right for you. The procedure itself is arranged by the consultant after that discussion, once you have had time to consider it.

Will it hurt?

Discomfort is kept to a minimum with local anaesthetic, sedation or pain relief as appropriate to the procedure. The team will tell you exactly what you are likely to feel and will stop or pause if you need them to.

How long will I be at the hospital?

Most people are in and out within a few hours; where an overnight stay or a longer recovery is expected, that is explained clearly when the procedure is booked so you can plan around it.

To arrange video bronchoscopy at your nearest AAF centre, book a consultation online or request a callback. Please bring a list of your current medicines and any previous test results or discharge summaries.