Latest Advancements in Endoscopy for Pulmonary Conditions

If your physician has recommended an endoscopy, bronchoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound to diagnose a chest or lung problem, you’ve come to the right place. Endoscopy experts at Skagit Regional Health are highly-experienced in performing endoscopy procedures to view the airway of your lungs and take a tissue sample, called a biopsy, if necessary.

What is a Bronchoscope?

A bronchoscope is a thin, flexible or rigid, hollow and lighted tube that lets the doctor see inside the airways in your lungs. A rigid bronchoscope is a straight tube. It’s only used to view the larger airways. The flexible bronchoscope can be moved into the smaller airways. The skilled endoscopist places the bronchoscope in your nose or mouth and moves it down the throat and trachea, or windpipe, into your airways. The specialist can then see the following:

• Large airways to the lungs, called the bronchi
• Smaller branches of the bronchi, called bronchioles
• Trachea
• Voice box, called the larynx

Diagnosing and Treating Lung Problems

Your doctor may recommend bronchoscopy to diagnose and treat a range of lung conditions, including:

• Airway blockage or obstruction
• Causes of coughing up blood
• Causes of persistent cough
• Inflammation and infections such as tuberculosis (TB), pneumonia and fungal or parasitic lung infections
• Interstitial pulmonary disease
• Narrowed areas in airways, called strictures
• Spots seen on chest X-rays
• Tumors or bronchial cancer
• Vocal cord paralysis

For More Information About the Lung Endoscopy Services

To learn more about our lung endoscopy services, please contact one of our team members at Skagit Regional Health at 360-428-2410. We can help you make an appointment or answer any questions you may have about lung endoscopy procedures.