Bronchoscopy (cont.)
What can a patient expect after a bronchoscopy?
Patients are taken to an observation area for monitoring
for one to two hours until any medication given adequately
wears off and patients are able to swallow safely. A
family member or a friend must take the patient home after
the outpatient procedure. Patients are not allowed to
drive or operate heavy machinery for the rest of the day
because their reflexes and judgment may be impaired. Some
patients may cough up dark-brown blood for the next one to
two days after the procedure. This is expected and should
not be alarming. However, if there is persistent bright
red blood in the sputum, the doctor must be consulted
immediately. A follow-up visit with the doctor is
scheduled to review the laboratory results, which are
typically available within one week.
What's new in bronchoscopy?
The bronchoscope is now being used with lasers to help remove and destroy tumor in the lungs. Sometimes, probes can be passed through the scope to freeze bleeding sites or to shrink tumors. Some newer technologies are on the horizon and may play a future role in the management of asthma and emphysema. There is data to suggest that warming the linings of the airways can reduce asthma attacks. Studies are also now underway investigating one-way valves placed in the upper lobe airways in patients with emphysema. The hope is that this investigational therapy will simulate the benefits seen in emphysema patients that receive lung volume reduction surgery.
- Bronchoscopy is a procedure that is performed by lung
specialists (pulmonologists or thoracic surgeons) to diagnose or treat a variety
of lung-related diseases.
- There are two types of bronchoscopes - flexible fiber
optic and rigid.
- Bronchoscopy is relatively safe.
- Bronchoscopy is performed in various settings,
including same-day outpatient bronchoscopy suite, operating
room, hospital ward, and/or intensive care unit.
Last Editorial Review: 5/7/2007
- warfarin, Coumadin - Reveals the medication warfarin (Coumadin) a drug used to inhibit the synthesis of clotting factors, thus preventing blood clot formation. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.
- Pneumonia - Learn pneumonia symptoms, causes, treatment, signs, diagnosis and types: viral and bacterial (Pneumocystis carinii, Klebsiella, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia pneumoniae).
- midazolam-oral syrup, Versed - Consumer information about the medication MIDAZOLAM - ORAL SYRUP (Versed), includes side effects, drug interactions, recommended dosages, and storage information. Read more about the prescription drug MIDAZOLAM - ORAL SYRUP.
Latest Medical News
Lungs RSS