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Bronchoscopy - Risks

Alternative Names

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy

What the risks are:

The main risks from bronchoscopy are:

  • Bleeding from biopsy sites
  • Infection

There is also a small risk of:

In the rare instances when general anesthesia is used, there is some risk for:

  • Muscle pain
  • Change in blood pressure
  • Slower heart rate
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

There is a small risk for:

  • Heart attack

When a biopsy is taken, there is a risk of severe bleeding (hemorrhage). Some bleeding is common. The technician or nurse will monitor the amount of bleeding.

There is a significant risk of choking if anything (including water) is swallowed before the numbing medicine wears off.

Special considerations:

After the procedure, your gag reflex will return. However, until it does, do not eat or drink anything.

To test if the gag reflex has returned, place a spoon on the back of your tongue for a few seconds with light pressure. If you don't gag, wait 15 minutes and try it again. Make sure that you don't use any small or sharp objects to test this reflex.

  • Reviewed last on: 4/27/2010
  • Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Kraft M. Approach to the patient with respiratory disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 83.

Reynolds HY. Respiratory structure and function: mechanisms and testing. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 85.

Prakash UBS. Bronchoscopy. In: Mason RJ, Murray J, VC Broaddus, Nadel J, eds. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2005:chap 22.

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