Bronchoscopy with transbronch... Health Article

What abnormal results mean

• Bronchial abnormalities, tumors
• Endobronchial mass
• Adenoma (tumor)
• Infection such as:
  • Aspergillosis
  • Coccidiomycosis
  • Actinomycosis
  • Fungus infections
  • Histoplasmosis infections
  • Anaerobic bacterial infections
  • Tuberculosis or mycobacteria
  • CMV pneumonia
  • PCP ()
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs related to allergy-type reactions)
• Rheumatoid lung disease
• Vasculitis
• Alveolar abnormalities such as alveolar proteinosis
• Granulomas
  • Non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation
  • Necrotizing granuloma (granular tumor)
  • Caseating granulomas
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Peribronchial granulomas

What the risks are

Pneumothorax occurs in about 2% of transbronchial biopsies. Usually this is followed with repeated chest x-rays unless the pneumothorax is large enough to require insertion of a chest tube to decompress the lung.

Whenever a biopsy is taken, there is a risk of hemorrhage. Some bleeding is common, and a technician or a nurse will monitor the amount of bleeding.

Lung infection may occur after any bronchoscopy.

There is also a small risk of:

• Disordered heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
• Heart attack
• Low blood oxygen (hypoxemia)

If general anesthesia is used, there is also some risk of:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sore throat
• Muscle pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Depressed heart rate
• Change in blood pressure
• Kidney damage

There is a significant risk of choking if anything (including water) is ingested before the anesthetic wears off.

Special considerations

To test whether your gag reflex has returned, place a spoon on the back of your tongue for a few seconds with light pressure. If you do not gag, wait 15 minutes and try again.

Do not use small or sharp objects to test your gag reflex. Call your health care provider or go to an emergency room immediately if you have shortness of breath or chest pain after this procedure.