What is a bronchoscopy?
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look inside your lungs and airways. It’s usually performed by a pulmonologist to help them better understand what’s happening inside the lungs and, in some cases, treat lung conditions.
Rush also offers robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, a minimally invasive approach that allows doctors to reach more areas of the lung than a standard bronchoscopy.
The results from the procedure — available at multiple Rush locations — helps guide and shape a treatment plan that’s tailored to you.
Why you might need a bronchoscopy
A bronchoscopy may be used to check lung nodules or masses, find the cause of a blockage or narrowing, or better understand your symptoms.
It can help diagnose both cancerous conditions, such as lung cancer, and noncancerous conditions, including infections, inflammation, scarring or airway changes from past treatments like radiation or a transplant. In some cases, it can be used to remove an object from the airway or help manage advanced lung conditions, such as severe COPD.
Since a bronchoscopy is minimally invasive, it can be a good option for people with complex lung conditions or a weakened immune system.
Different types of bronchoscopies
Bronchoscopy can be performed in different ways, depending on whether your doctors need to check your lungs or treat a problem. They include:
- Flexible bronchoscopy, which uses a thin, bendable scope and is often done to check for infections, pneumonia, mucus buildup, foreign objects or lung nodules.
- Rigid bronchoscopy, which uses a straight scope and is usually performed in the operating room by interventional pulmonologists to remove tumors, open blocked airways, place stents or deliver treatments such as cryotherapy.
- Advanced bronchoscopy technologies, which include robotic-assisted tools, allow doctors to reach smaller or harder-to-access areas of the lungs and provide detailed information to guide treatment decisions.
Meet our bronchoscopy providers
Preparing for your bronchoscopy
Here’s what to do and what to avoid before your bronchoscopy:
- Medications: Some medications, especially blood thinners, may need to be temporarily paused.
- Fasting: Try not to eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure. In some cases, clear liquids may be allowed in the morning, but milk and other non-clear drinks should be avoided.
- Bring support: Most bronchoscopies are scheduled as outpatient procedures, so you can go home the same day. Since anesthesia is used, you’ll need an adult companion to bring you to the procedure and take you home afterward, whether they drive you or come with you in a rideshare.
What to expect during a bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is usually done as an outpatient procedure. Your visit begins at registration, followed by a short wait in the waiting area. Once you’re called back, a nurse will review your medical history, ask about medications, check your vital signs and start an IV. Your doctor will then explain the procedure and answer any questions.
During the bronchoscopy, a thin scope is passed through your mouth (and sometimes your nose) into your lungs. The type of procedure determines the anesthesia used and how long it will take.
- Shorter, diagnostic procedures are done with light sedation and are used to look inside the lungs or check for infections. They usually take 15 to 30 minutes.
- Longer, more complex procedures are done under general anesthesia and may involve opening narrowed airways, removing tumors, placing stents or treating problem areas with heat or cold therapies. In some cases, a breathing tube may be used. These procedures can take 30 to 90 minutes.
Afterward, you’ll rest in a recovery area for one to two hours and can usually go home the same day. Even though the procedure itself may be brief, your full visit can take several hours, so plan to block off most of the day.
What to expect after a bronchoscopy
After a bronchoscopy, it’s normal to feel sleepy or groggy for the rest of the day. As your body recovers, you may notice a few other mild symptoms, including:
- A mild cough that can last a few days
- A small amount of blood when coughing, especially if you had a biopsy
- A low-grade fever for a short time after the procedure
These symptoms are common and usually improve on their own within a few days.
When the results of your bronchoscopy are ready, your care team will review them with you, usually within a week. They’ll explain what the results mean and discuss any treatment options, if needed.
Choosing Rush for a Bronchoscopy
- Diagnosing lung care faster, more accurate: Experts at Rush use a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy systems to diagnose lung cancer faster and more accurately. This minimally invasive lung biopsy reaches more parts of the lung with a lower complication rate than other traditional techniques.
- Collaborative approach: Our pulmonologists work closely with other specialists in the Rush Lung Center and throughout Rush to make sure you get comprehensive care. This team approach means that we’re able to reach a diagnosis and provide treatment more quickly and effectively than if you saw just one doctor.
- Leading-edge testing: Rush offers state-of-the-art testing for lung disease, including impulse oscillometry for lung function testing and a cardiopulmonary exercise lab to evaluate symptoms that arise during physical activity. We’re proud that our pulmonary function technicians are some of the most highly trained in the Chicago area.
- Convenient care: Rush pulmonologists are located in Chicago, Oak Park and Aurora/Fox Valley, and we offer telehealth visits for initial consultations and second opinions. If you come to Rush University Medical Center for tests or procedures, you can schedule follow-up appointments or pulmonary rehabilitation at another location that’s more convenient for you.
FAQs About Bronchoscopy
A traditional bronchoscopy is an effective way to examine the lungs. Robotic bronchoscopy is an advanced option that allows doctors to reach smaller or harder-to- access areas of the lungs with even greater precision. This can make it easier to safely and accurately examine and sample lung nodules, helping your doctors determine the best course of treatment more quickly.
Bronchoscopy can be used not only to look inside your lungs and airways, but also to help treat certain problems. For example, if a mass is blocking your airway and causing shortness of breath, doctors can open the airway with a balloon or place a small tube called a stent to make breathing easier.
Bronchoscopy can also help widen airways that have become narrowed from other procedures, such as intubation or a tracheostomy. For advanced lung conditions like COPD, a bronchoscopy may help improve breathing.
Bronchoscopy is generally safe, but like any procedure, there are some risks. Anytime a biopsy is done, there is a small chance of causing a lung injury or a small hole in the lung, called a pneumothorax, which is rare and happens in about 1% to 2% of cases. There is also a small chance of bleeding, or very rarely, developing pneumonia. Reactions to medications or anesthesia are uncommon but can happen as well. Your care team will review any potential risks with you beforehand and take steps to keep you safe.
The length of your bronchoscopy depends on the type of procedure. Shorter diagnostic procedures, such as looking inside the lungs or taking a small sample to test for infection, usually take about 15 to 30 minutes. Longer, more complex procedures, such as opening narrowed airways, placing stents, or removing or reducing tumors, typically take 30 to 90 minutes.
Keep in mind that the procedure itself is only part of your visit. You’ll also spend time checking in, getting prepared and recovering from anesthesia, so your total visit may take most of the day.
No, most people don’t need to stay in the hospital after a bronchoscopy. It’s an outpatient procedure, meaning you can usually go home once you’ve recovered from anesthesia. In a rare case that a complication occurs, a short hospital stay may be needed to monitor and treat the issue.
After a bronchoscopy, it’s normal to feel a little groggy from the anesthesia. Some people may have a mild cough or a low-grade fever for a few days. You might also notice a small amount of blood when you cough.
You should call your doctor if you notice new chest pain, new shortness of breath, a fever over 101°F or coughing up more than a small amount of blood.
Bronchoscopy is generally covered by most insurance plans. Coverage can vary, so it’s a good idea to check with your insurance provider to understand any potential costs.
