Interventional pulmonology
Video bronchoscopy in Agra
A safe, short procedure that lets your doctor look inside your airways and take samples — often the fastest route to a clear diagnosis.
What is it?
A camera view of your airways
A bronchoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a light and a tiny camera at its tip. It is passed gently through the nose or mouth, down the windpipe and into the airways of the lungs.
The camera shows the airways in colour on a screen and the findings can be recorded on video. Through the same tube, small samples of fluid or tissue can be taken for testing.
Why it is done
When your doctor may recommend it
Blood in the sputum
To find where the bleeding comes from and why.
An abnormal X-ray or CT
To look at a shadow, nodule or collapsed area and take a biopsy.
Infections that won’t clear
To collect samples from deep in the lungs, including for TB.
Long-lasting cough
When the cause has not been found by other tests.
Narrowed airways
To check for blockage, narrowing or a swallowed foreign body.
Lung disease work-up
Samples that help diagnose lung fibrosis and other diseases.
Step by step
What to expect
Most people go home the same day. Dr Gupta will give you instructions for your own situation before the procedure.
Before
You will be asked not to eat or drink for a few hours. Tell the doctor about all your medicines, especially blood thinners, and any allergies.
During
The nose and throat are numbed with a local anaesthetic spray, and a mild sedative may be given. The look itself usually takes only a short time.
After
You rest until the numbness wears off — don’t eat or drink until then. A mild sore throat or cough for a day is common.
Results
Dr Gupta explains what was seen straight away; laboratory results from samples follow and are discussed at your follow-up.
Other procedures
Treating the lining of the lung
Fluid or air around the lungs can cause breathlessness and chest pain. These procedures relieve symptoms and find the cause.
Pleural tapping
Thoracentesis: a fine needle drains fluid from around the lung for relief and testing.
ICD insertion
An intercostal chest drain removes air (pneumothorax) or larger collections of fluid.
Medical thoracoscopy
A camera look at the pleura, the lining of the lung, with biopsies where needed.
Advised a bronchoscopy? Get it done here.
Speak with Dr Gupta about the procedure, preparation and what the results mean for you.