Bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy is a procedure where a flexible tube is passed into a patient's lung to view the lung and airways, while under sedation.

A bronchoscopy may be indicated for diagnosis purposes or to allow samples of the lung tissue to be biopsied through the bronchoscope for examination in the laboratory.

Bronchoscopy is used to make a diagnosis often for the following reasons: where there is a persistent cough, blood is present in the sputum (mucus), an abnormal chest  X-ray is seen or a suspected lung infection.

It can also be used for treatment for example to remove a foreign body in the lung, or to insert a small tube called a stent to open a collapsed  airway, and to remove a growth that is blocking an airway.