Bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy

Infants and children:

The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age, previous experiences, and level of trust. For general information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:

Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the test will feel:

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Local anesthesia is used to relax your throat muscles. You may feel fluid running down the back of the throat, and feel you need to cough or gag until the anesthetic takes effect.

Despite the anesthesia, you may have sensations of pressure or mild tugging as the tube moves through the trachea. Many patients experience a feeling of suffocation when the tube is in the throat, but there is no risk of suffocation. Try to remain calm. If you cough during the test, more anesthetic will be added.

An x-ray is often taken after the bronchoscope is removed. When the anesthetic wears off, your throat may be scratchy for several days. After the test, your cough reflex will return in 1 to 2 hours, then normal eating and drinking is allowed.

It is common after a transbronchial biopsy to cough up small amounts of blood-tinged sputum for a day. The pulmonologist will give you instructions on whom to contact should you cough up significant amounts of blood.

Why the test is performed:

A transbronchial biopsy is most often performed when there is diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease, tumors, rejection of a transplanted lung, or severe illness that prevents the use of open lung biopsy.