Bronchoscopy

What is a bronchoscopy?

A bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows a pulmonologist to look inside your airways and lungs using a thin, flexible tube called a bronchoscope. The bronchoscope has a tiny camera that provides detailed images of areas that cannot be seen with standard imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans alone.

During the procedure, your pulmonologist may also collect small samples of tissue or fluid to help diagnose lung conditions, identify infection or inflammation, or determine whether a suspicious finding requires treatment. This is known as a biopsy.

Why you might need a bronchoscopy

While CT scans are excellent at detecting abnormalities, they can’t always determine exactly what the abnormality is. For many patients, a bronchoscopy is the next step after a lung screening identifies an area that needs a closer look.

Your healthcare practitioner may recommend a bronchoscopy if you have:

• A suspicious finding on a CT scan or chest X-ray
• A persistent cough that has not improved
• Instances of coughing up blood
• Ongoing shortness of breath or wheezing
• A suspected lung infection or inflammation
• A blockage in one of your airways

If a biopsy is recommended, bronchoscopy offers a way to obtain answers without lung surgery.

The advantages of Ion™ robotic bronchoscopy

Some lung nodules are extremely small or located deep within the lungs, making them difficult to reach with traditional bronchoscopy. For appropriate patients, LMH Health offers Ion robotic bronchoscopy, which is advanced technology designed to help pulmonologists navigate to these hard-to-reach areas with precision.

As an alternative to more complex and invasive lung biopsies, Ion robotic bronchoscopies support early diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions, including lung cancer.

How it works

Using robotic-assisted navigation, your pulmonologist can guide a thin, highly maneuverable catheter through the lungs to reach suspicious nodules. Once the area is reached, tissue samples can often be collected during the same minimally invasive procedure.

For patients, that may mean:

• Earlier diagnosis of lung conditions
• Lower risk of complications from accessing hard-to-reach nodules
• Less discomfort and downtime
• Faster treatment planning when additional care is needed

For the community, from the community

As your partner for lifelong health, LMH Health is committed to bringing advanced diagnostic technology to those we serve. The purchase of the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system was made possible in part through the generous support of LMH Health Foundation donors, helping to expand local access to advanced options for lung cancer diagnosis.

And, because we believe cost shouldn’t stand in the way of receiving recommended care, the LMH Health Foundation may be able to provide financial assistance for eligible patients if cost is a barrier to receiving a bronchoscopy.

What to expect at your bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopies are typically performed as outpatient procedures, which means most patients go home the same day. We perform each procedure in our state-of-the-art endoscopy suite at the LMH Health Main Campus.

Although every patient is different, bronchoscopies usually follow the same general process:

• Before the procedure begins, you will be given a sedative to help you sleep comfortably. Standard bronchoscopies can be done under moderate sedation. More complex bronchoscopies – such as those requiring ultrasound or needle biopsy technology – will be done under general anesthesia.
• Your care team will closely monitor your breathing and heart rate before, during and after the procedure.
• Your pulmonologist will gently guide the bronchoscope through your mouth and into your airways. If needed, your pulmonologist will collect biopsy samples to help diagnose or rule out conditions such as infection, inflammation and lung cancer.
• Depending on the type of bronchoscopy you are having, your procedure will take anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes. To allow for registration, preparation and recovery in addition to the procedure, please plan to be here for around 5 hours.
• After the procedure, you’ll be taken to our recovery area while the sedation wears off. Because sedation can affect alertness, you will need someone to drive you home.
• You may experience mild throat soreness, hoarseness, or a cough for a day or two. Some patients may notice a small amount of blood-tinged mucus after a biopsy, which is often expected. Your healthcare team will let you know when it’s safe to eat, drink and resume your normal activities.

If you develop a fever or your symptoms worsen, contact your healthcare practitioner as soon as possible. If you experience chest pain, heavy bleeding or difficulty breathing, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.

What happens after a bronchoscopy

If your pulmonologist collected tissue samples during the bronchoscopy, those samples will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Your care team will contact you when the biopsy results are available (typically 3 to 5 business days) to go over them with you, answer your questions and explain your next steps. Office visits to discuss the results are also available.

Depending on the findings, your next steps may include:

• No additional treatment if the finding is benign
• Continued monitoring with follow-up imaging
• Additional testing
• A personalized treatment plan developed with specialists across LMH Health – for example, a referral to cancer specialists

You don’t have to navigate the process alone

With advanced diagnostic procedures like Ion robotic bronchoscopy and our comprehensive lung nodule evaluation program, the experts at Lawrence Pulmonary Specialists provide accurate diagnosis and personalized care.

Whether you’ve been referred after an imaging test or you’re meeting with a pulmonologist to discuss your options, we are here for you.

Frequently asked questions

For referring physicians

To refer a patient to our lung nodule program for bronchoscopy and multidisciplinary evaluation, call 785-505-3205 or send a referral to Lawrence Pulmonary Specialists. We will contact the patient promptly for scheduling.

If you have questions about the program, please call Mo Houk, RN, pulmonary nurse, at 785-505-3201.