Benefits of Snacks Good for Children's Health and Choices
Bronchoscopy is a procedure for examining the respiratory tract and lungs using a device called a bronchoscope. This procedure is performed to diagnose or treat a number of disorders of the respiratory tract and lungs.
A bronchoscope is a tube equipped with a lamp and a camera at the end. This hose has a width of 1 cm and a length of 60 cm. Generally, bronchoscopy uses a flexible bronchoscope. However, in some cases, the doctor may use a rigid bronchoscope.
Bronchoscopy Indications
The doctor can perform a bronchoscopy for the following purposes:
- Detects lung infections that cannot be diagnosed by other testing methods
- Checking for disease or blockage in the lungs or airways before the lungs
- Take a tissue sample (biopsy) in the lungs
- Find out the causes of coughing up blood, shortness of breath, low blood oxygen levels, and a cough that lasts more than 3 months for no apparent reason
- Check whether there is rejection after a lung transplant
- Confirming abnormal imaging results of the lungs
Bronchoscopy Alert
Tell the doctor all medicines, supplements, and herbal products that are being used. It is feared that the use of certain drugs or supplements can interfere with the smooth running of the procedure or actually affect the test results.
In addition, notify the doctor if you are suffering from certain diseases or are currently undergoing therapy or medication.
Before Bronchoscopy
There are several things that patients need to know before undergoing bronchoscopy, namely:
- Patients need to remove dentures, glasses, contact lenses or hearing aids before undergoing bronchoscopy.
- Patients need to stop taking blood thinners, such as warfarin and clopidogrel, a week before undergoing bronchoscopy.
- Patients need to fast 6–12 hours before undergoing bronchoscopy.
- Patients need to invite someone to drive them home and accompany them during the rest period after the bronchoscopy is finished.
Bronchoscopy Procedure
Before the bronchoscopy is started, the doctor will perform the following actions:
- Asking the patient to sit or lie on his back with his arms at his sides
- Connecting the patient to a monitor so that the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level can always be monitored during the procedure
- Injecting a sedative to relax the patient or general anesthesia if the doctor uses a stiff bronchoscope
- Spray an anesthetic into the patient's mouth and throat to numb the mouth and throat
- Apply anesthetic in the form of gel to the patient's nose if the bronchoscope is to be inserted through the nose
Bronchoscopy is started after the anesthesia has worked. The first step the doctor takes is to insert the bronchoscope into the patient's nose or mouth. After that, the bronchoscope will be slowly pushed up to the lungs. This process is painless, but the patient may experience some discomfort.
While the bronchoscope is pushed in, the doctor will see the condition of the respiratory tract through the monitor screen. Depending on the patient's condition, the next step the doctor may take can be:
- Flushing the lungs with saline, then taking them back to check for abnormal cells, bacteria, mucus, or any foreign bodies that may be present
- Taking tissue samples or tumors in the lung
- Putting an ultrasound-assisted stent into the respiratory tract to dilate the airways
- Removes mucus, pus, or foreign objects that clog the lungs
- Overcoming active bleeding in the lung, collapsed lung (pneumothorax), or tumor in the lung
The entire bronchoscopy procedure, including the preparation and recovery process from the anesthetic, can take about 4 hours. However, the bronchoscopy procedure itself only lasts about 30–60 minutes.
After Bronchoscopy
The doctor will monitor the patient's condition for up to several hours after the bronchoscopy, to make sure the patient does not have complications.
It is important to remember, the patient's mouth and throat will remain numb for several hours after the bronchoscopy. To prevent food and drink from entering the lungs, the patient is not allowed to eat and drink until the effects of the anesthetic wear off.
The patient may also experience sore throat, hoarseness, or cough, but these complaints are normal after bronchoscopy. To relieve it, the patient can drink warm water and consume lozenges after the mouth and throat are no longer numb.
The doctor will explain the bronchoscopy results to the patient 1-3 days after the procedure. Bronchoscopy results can be said to be normal if the cells and fluid taken are normal, or there are no obstruction, abnormal tissue, or foreign bodies in the respiratory tract.
On the other hand, a bronchoscopy is abnormal if the following conditions are found:
- Tuberculosis infection
- Bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infection
- Narrowing of the respiratory tract
- Damage associated with an allergic reaction
- Abnormalities or inflammation of the lung tissue
- Tumor or cancer tissue in the lungs or in the area around the lungs
- Rejection reactions after lung transplant
The results will help the doctor determine the treatment or follow-up examination that the patient should undergo.
Risk of Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is generally safe, but it carries risks. In some cases, this procedure can cause:
- Fever
- Pneumonia
- Bleeding in the lungs due to the biopsy
- The lung collapses as a result of injury during bronchoscopy
Immediately check with the doctor if you experience the following complaints after bronchoscopy:
- Fever for more than a day
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
Comments
Post a Comment