St. Luke's Institute of Pulmonary Medicine

Institute of Pulmonary Medicine
1st Floor, Main Hospital Building
Trunk Line : (632) 723-0101 ext. 4128 or 5421

Institute of Pulmonary Medicine

Back to SLMC Home Home Clinical Services About Us News & Events Contact Us FAQ	Home > Taking an Inside Look at Your Lungs
	Taking an Inside Look at Your Lungs Bronchoscopy is a diagnostic procedure in which a specially trained pulmonologist ably assisted by the Institute’s fellows and personnel insert a bronchoscope into your trachea and lungs’ main stem bronchi and some of the small bronchi. A bronchoscope is a flexible tube less than ½ inch wide and about 2 feet long. It has a tiny camera at the end. Bronchoscopy may be performed for diagnostic and/or therapeutic reasons. Diagnostic indications may include, but are not limited to, the following: tumors or bronchial cancer airway obstructions and/or strictures (narrowed areas) inflammation and infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, or fungal or parasitic lung infections interstitial pulmonary disease persistent cough or hemoptysis (coughing up blood) abnormal chest X-rays biopsy of tissue or collection of other specimen, such as sputum vocal cord paralysis bronchoalveolar lavage, or BAL (instilling fluid through the bronchoscope to aid in the diagnosis of certain lung disorders) Therapeutic uses of bronchoscopy may include, but are not limited to, the following: removal of secretions, blood, mucus plugs, or polyps (growths) to clear airways control bleeding in the bronchi removal of foreign objects or other obstructions laser therapy or brachytherapy (radiation treatment) for bronchial tumors stent placement (a device used to keep the airway open) draining of an abscess

Taking an Inside Look at Your Lungs