Advice after your nerve block for surgery
On this page…
You have been advised to have a bronchoscopy to help find the cause of your symptoms, or to assess the progress of your condition. The examination will be carried out in the Minor Operation room in Theatres, which is situated on the Orange Zone of the hospital. Please do not bring valuables with you as the hospital cannot accept responsibility for the loss or damage to personal property during your time on these premises.
Bronchoscopies take about 15–30 minutes to complete, but this varies with the individual findings, and on whether or not you require sedation.
If you have sedation, it is essential that someone is available to drive you home as you will not be able to drive for 24 hours afterwards. It is also recommended that if you have had sedation, you do not operate machinery or make important decisions for the remainder of the day, as sedation impairs your reflexes and judgement. Someone will need to be with you for the remainder of the day and overnight if you have had sedation. If there is a problem with this please discuss this with the admitting team.
What is Bronchoscopy?
A Bronchoscopy is an investigation which allows the doctor to look directly at the trachea (windpipe), the bronchi (branches of the airway), and in some areas of your lungs. A bronchoscope is passed through either your nose or mouth past the larynx (voice box), down your trachea and into your bronchi. If the bronchoscope is passed through your mouth, a small plastic mouth guard will be placed in your mouth to prevent you accidentally biting the instrument. A bronchoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with a bright light and camera at the end which is connected to a television system.
The bronchoscope allows your doctor to examine the major air passages of your lungs. It also allows small specimens to be taken from the bronchial tubes. These include:
- Washings - putting salty water into the airway, then sucking it back to sample cells on the surface of the airway and look for infections.
- Biopsies - small pieces of the airway which the laboratory examine under a microscope.
- Brushing – using a small brush into the scope to take samples.
All endoscopic procedures carry a small risk (less than 1:1000) of haemorrhage or pneumothorax (collapse of the lung). Other rare complications include allergic reaction to local anaesthetic or to the sedative used.
Preparation
You must not eat or drink for at least 4 hours before examination. The examination can be performed using local anaesthetic spray and with an injection of a sedative. If you prefer to try without sedation this is sometimes possible. You will be able to discuss these options in detail on the day of your procedure.
Please inform a member of the team if you could be pregnant and, where possible, please check a pregnancy test before the procedure. Please also inform us if you are breast-feeding.
Your Usual Medications
It is important to take your regular prescribed medications on the day of your bronchoscopy. You may take these with a small sip of water only. Some medications cause you to bleed excessively including:
• Aspirin
• Dipyridamole
• Clopidogrel
• Ticagrelor
• Warfarin & Sinthrome
• Dalteparin & other heparin injections
• DOACs (Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, Dabigatran, Edoxaban, Argatroban)
These may need to be stopped for several days before your procedure. If you are taking any of these medicines, please inform the doctor performing your bronchoscopy so that we can advise you on this:
Please contact:
The Chest Clinic at King Edward VII Hospital 01753 636450
Mon- Fri 9.00am – 5.00pm
What to expect before the procedure
The doctor or nurse will explain the procedure to you and will be happy to answer questions. You will have your pulse and blood pressure taken and will be asked about previous medical history. Bring details of any medication you are currently taking. We will require the telephone number of a relative or friend who will be able to collect you. You will be asked to sign a consent form giving permission for the examination.
What to expect during the examination
In the treatment room you will be asked to lie on a trolley. A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm. A local anaesthetic will be sprayed in your nose and mouth. An intravenous sedative will be inserted into a vein. As the bronchoscope is passed you may cough, but as the anaesthetic takes effect your throat will relax. You will be monitored throughout the whole procedure with supplementary oxygen in your nose.
What to expect after the examination
You will rest in the recovery area for about one hour, or until the main effects of the sedation have worn off. Because your throat will be numb, you will not be able to eat or drink for about one hour. The doctor may wish to see you before you go home, and you will be given a letter giving you details of follow-up arrangements.
If any biopsies have been taken, the letter will also give you details of when results will be available. Occasionally, we may arrange a chest x-ray after the bronchoscopy.
After the examination you may cough up small amounts of blood over the following 24 hours, this will soon pass and is nothing to worry about. Any soreness in the throat or hoarseness will also ease in a day or so. A low grade fever can occur in the 12 hours following this procedure. A simple pain killer such as paracetamol can help.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Respiratory medicine service.
About this information
Service:
Respiratory medicine
Reference:
W/014
Approval date:
20 December 2024
Review date:
1 December 2027
Click ‘show accessibility tools’ at the bottom of the page
Then click ‘select language’
Alternative formats
You can use the accessibility toolbar at the bottom of your screen to:
-
Change the text size
-
Adjust the font
-
Modify the colour contrast
-
Use the translate function
If you would like this information in another format, such as Braille, audio, or easy read, please speak to a member of staff.
You can also print as well as download as PDF using the “Print this page” button at the end of the page.
Staff will print a copy for you on request
Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.