Bronchoscopy
A bronchoscopy is an examination of the windpipe and the airways of the lungs using a thin, flexible camera passed through the nose or mouth. It investigates abnormal chest scans, persistent cough, coughing up blood or unexplained infection, allows biopsies to diagnose lung disease, and can also be used therapeutically in selected airway problems.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Bronchoscopy allows a chest physician to look directly inside the airways and take samples to find the cause of lung problems. A slim, flexible bronchoscope is passed through the nose or mouth, down the windpipe and into the branching airways, displaying high-definition images on a monitor. It is used to investigate a shadow or mass seen on a chest X-ray or CT scan, a persistent cough, coughing up blood, repeated chest infections or unexplained breathlessness. Through the scope the doctor can take tissue biopsies, brushings and washings, and sample lymph nodes to diagnose or stage conditions including lung cancer, infection and inflammatory lung disease.
Bronchoscopy can also be therapeutic in selected cases. It may help remove an obstructing mass or a foreign body from the bronchi, clear secretions, or deliver bronchoalveolar lavage. In pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, bronchoalveolar lavage is a key treatment approach, washing accumulated material from the air spaces under specialist care.
International patients are guided throughout by a dedicated coordinator who arranges scheduling, interpreter services and pre-procedure instructions. If you already have chest X-rays, CT scans or previous pathology, our pulmonology team can review them remotely before you travel and provide a transparent, itemised cost estimate in advance, so you can plan with confidence.
Who is a candidate?
- An abnormal shadow, nodule or mass seen on a chest X-ray or CT scan that needs sampling
- Coughing up blood (haemoptysis) that requires investigation
- A persistent or unexplained cough lasting several weeks
- Repeated or non-resolving chest infections or suspected pneumonia
- Suspected lung cancer requiring tissue diagnosis or lymph-node staging
- Investigation of interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis or unexplained breathlessness
What happens
- 1
Preparation
You fast from food and drink for several hours beforehand so the airway is clear. Tell the team about blood thinners, asthma or heart conditions, as these may need adjusting. Recent chest imaging is reviewed before the procedure, and you arrange for someone to accompany you home after sedation.
- 2
Arrival and sedation
You change into a gown and a cannula is placed in a vein. Local anaesthetic is sprayed into the nose and throat to numb the airway, and light sedation is given so you stay relaxed. Your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen are continuously monitored, and supplemental oxygen is provided.
- 3
During the procedure
With you lying back or semi-reclined, the flexible bronchoscope is passed gently through the nose or mouth, past the vocal cords and into the airways. You can breathe normally throughout. The doctor inspects the airway lining in detail on the monitor.
- 4
Sampling and biopsy
Depending on the findings, the doctor may take small biopsies, brush the airway surface, wash an area to collect cells (lavage), or use ultrasound guidance (EBUS) to sample lymph nodes. These samples are sent for pathology and microbiology testing.
- 5
Afterwards & results
You rest under observation for two to four hours until the sedation wears off and the numbing of the throat resolves before you eat or drink. A mild cough, slight sore throat or small amount of blood-streaked sputum can occur briefly. Initial findings are discussed the same day; biopsy and culture results follow within several days and are shared with you and your home physician.
Benefits
- Directly visualises the airways and lung passages in high definition
- Provides tissue and fluid samples to accurately diagnose cancer, infection and inflammation
- Allows ultrasound-guided sampling of lymph nodes for precise lung-cancer staging
- Minimally invasive, performed under sedation with same-day discharge in most cases
- Can also clear secretions, remove selected obstructions or foreign bodies, and support bronchoalveolar lavage treatment when indicated
Risks & considerations
- A short-lived sore throat, hoarse voice or cough after the procedure
- A small amount of blood-streaked sputum, especially after biopsies, usually settling on its own
- Temporary low oxygen levels, managed with supplemental oxygen during and after the test
- Reactions to sedation or numbing medication, monitored throughout
- Rare risks of significant bleeding, infection, or a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) after deeper biopsies
Where it is performed
This procedure is performed by our Chest Diseases Department.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Bronchoscopy — frequently asked questions
Yes. The bronchoscope is thin and does not block the airway, so you breathe normally throughout. Supplemental oxygen is given and your oxygen levels are monitored the whole time.
It is not painful. Your nose and throat are numbed with local anaesthetic and you receive sedation to stay relaxed. You may feel an urge to cough briefly as the scope passes the vocal cords, which quickly settles.
You will fast from food and drink for several hours before the procedure so the airway is clear and the test is safe. Your coordinator provides exact, translated instructions in advance.
The doctor discusses the initial visual findings with you the same day. Biopsy, washing and culture results take several days, and are shared with you and your home doctor once complete.
Yes. Our pulmonology team can review your chest X-rays, CT scans and any prior pathology remotely before you arrive, so we can confirm whether bronchoscopy is the right test and plan it efficiently during your stay.
The cost depends on the type of sampling required, such as standard biopsy or ultrasound-guided (EBUS) lymph-node sampling. After a remote review of your imaging we provide a transparent, itemised personalised estimate before you travel, with no hidden fees.
Related treatments
Considering bronchoscopy?
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