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Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure.
Take your morning medications with a sip of water before leaving home. If you are a diabetic, then contact your physician BEFORE the day of the test for instructions regarding your diabetic medications.
Your procedure will be performed in the hospital agreed upon by you and your physician. Please bring all prescriptions “in the bottles” to the hospital with you.
Do not take blood thinner or aspirin products 48 hours prior to procedure. If you are on Coumadin, please contact your physician several days ahead for instructions on your Coumadin dose.
You will need someone to drive you home.
Arrive at the hospital two and a half hours before the procedure time. (For example, if your procedure is at 7:30 a.m., then arrive at 5:00 a.m.)
Contact your physician for any other questions prior to the procedure date.
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A bronchoscopy is an exam of the inside lining of your airways. These airways consist of your pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchial tubes. This is performed using a flexible tube called a bronchoscope passed through your nose or mouth.
During the procedure, the patient is asked to lie down on a flat table. Dentures and eyeglasses should be removed. Low-flow oxygen will be used by cannula or mask. Most patients are apprehensive about the test, so an IV will be placed to administer sedative medication during the procedure. When a patient is relaxed, the test is much easier and more accurate. The dose of medication is adjusted so that your breathing will not be adversely effected. These sedative medications frequently cause transient amnesia so you may not remember some of the details of the exam. The IV will be removed after the exam is over.
Many patients have a strong gag reflex. To reduce this, the nose, throat, and airways are sprayed with a numbing agent called lidocaine. The bronchoscope is a small tube less than a fourth inch in diameter. The lubricated scope is passed through the mouth or nose and into the trachea and bronchial tubes. This is not painful, but cough and a brief smothering sensation are common. The scope does not interfere with breathing. Patients are encouraged not to talk while the scope is in use.
During the procedure, your doctor may decide to do a biopsy of your lung. These biopsies are small pieces of tissue taken with a forceps. This does not hurt as there is no pain sensation inside the trachea or bronchial tubes.. Secretions and saline washings from your lung will also be collected. Photographs may be taken of your airways for your medical record.
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