Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a procedure to view inside the lungs & airways. It involves inserting a bronchoscope tube, with its light and small camera fixed at the tip, through your nose or mouth, down your throat into your trachea, or windpipe, and to the bronchi and bronchioles of your lungs. The procedure is performed using a flexible bronchoscope or a rigid bronchoscope. Flexible bronchoscopy is more common than rigid bronchoscopy, and flexible bronchoscopy usually does not require general anesthesia.

A liquid medicine (anesthesia) is given to numb the nose and throat. If a lot of bleeding is present in the lungs or a large object is stuck in the airway, then it may require rigid bronchoscopy in the hospital operating room under general anesthesia.