Scopes for Looking Into the Lungs

Scopes for Looking Into the Lungs

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QUESTION: I know doctors use telescopes to look into your bowels and stomach.
However my problem lies within my lungs, and my doctor has suggested the same
procedure looking into my lungs. Can that be done?
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ANSWER: Those aren't telescopes, those are endoscopes, and yes, there is a
special endoscope for looking into the throat and lungs. A bronchial
endoscope, or bronchoscope, uses optical fibers to view the lungs, the throat,
the voice box, and the windpipe. It can also remove foreign objects or take a
small sample of tissue for analysis.
You can undergo bronchoscopy either as a hospital patient or as an
outpatient. Before the test, you'll be given a medication to relax you and to
reduce secretions in your lungs. While you lie on a table, your doctor will
spray your nose and throat with a local anesthetic and insert the tube through
either your nose or mouth. Breathe slowly and try not to cough. Although
your throat will feel full, you will still be able to breath around the
bronchoscope.
The test will provide your physician with a great deal of very important
information about your lungs which can be important in establishing the
correct therapy for your condition.