BRONCHOSCOPY
Bronchoscopy: What Is It, How Is It Done and When Is It Needed?
Prof. Dr. Yalçın Karakoca · Last updated: 25 September 2026
SHORT ANSWER
Bronchoscopy is an examination of the inside of the airways. A tube with a camera at its tip is used for this. The tube is passed through the mouth or nose into the windpipe and the bronchi. The tube is usually thin and flexible. For some treatments, a wider, rigid tube (rigid bronchoscope) is used. If needed, a small tissue sample (biopsy) or a sample of washing fluid may be taken. A treatment procedure can also be carried out. The procedure is done with medicines that make you sleepy (sedation) or under general anaesthesia. You usually do not feel pain. A procedure for diagnosis takes 15–30 minutes. Procedures for treatment take 30–90 minutes. As with any procedure, bronchoscopy has risks. Bleeding, a temporary drop in oxygen level and fever may occur. Rarely, air may leak between the membranes around the lung (pneumothorax). After a bronchoscopy for diagnosis, most patients go home the same day.
What is bronchoscopy?
Bronchoscopy is a way of looking at the inner surface of the airways with a thin, flexible tube. The camera at the tip of the tube lets changes in the airways be assessed. The procedure can be done for diagnosis and, in some cases, for treatment.
When your doctor thinks it necessary, small tissue samples can be taken during the procedure, or washing fluid can be collected. Some narrowings or blockages can be opened during the same procedure; for these, see our page on interventional bronchoscopy. Whether the procedure is done, when, and how, is planned by your doctor after assessing your symptoms, imaging results and general health.
- Follow your doctor’s advice on fasting and medicines before the procedure.
- Sedation or general anaesthesia may be used; you usually feel no pain during the procedure.
- How long you rest afterwards, and when you can go home, is decided by your doctor.
Why is it done?
For diagnosis:
- Suspected lung cancer
- A cough or coughing up blood with no identified cause
- A mass or an enlarged lymph node seen on a CT scan
- A lung infection that does not go away
- Some diseases that affect the lung tissue (interstitial lung diseases)
For treatment (interventional bronchoscopy):
- Airway narrowing
- A tumour blocking the airway
- An object that has been inhaled into the airway
- Stopping bleeding
- Placing a stent
- Balloon treatment or a lung valve in COPD
Details: Interventional bronchoscopy
Preparation
You must not eat or drink anything for 6–8 hours before the procedure. If you take a blood thinner, your doctor will tell you whether to pause it. If it is to be paused, your doctor will also tell you when. Do not stop any medicine on your own. Bring a list of all the medicines you take. Because of the medicines given during the procedure, you should not drive that day. A companion should be with you. Blood tests and an ECG are done before the procedure. If needed, a breathing test or a chest CT scan is also done.
Procedure
A cannula is placed in a vein in your arm and you are given oxygen. Your heart rhythm and oxygen level are monitored throughout the procedure. You are given medicines that make you sleepy, or general anaesthesia. Your throat is numbed with a spray or medicine (local anaesthesia). The bronchoscope is then passed in, the airways are examined and the necessary procedure is carried out. It takes 15–90 minutes. Rigid bronchoscopy requires general anaesthesia and is used for more extensive treatments.
Is bronchoscopy painful, and how long does it take?
The sedation or anaesthesia that is given helps you get through the procedure more comfortably. Pain is not expected in most patients; you may feel fullness in the throat, an urge to cough or mild pressure. These sensations vary from person to person, and the team watches over you throughout.
The length of the procedure varies with the centre, the type of procedure and the samples to be taken; your doctor can give you an idea of the likely range. Preparation beforehand and resting time afterwards may be added to this.
- Sedation or general anaesthesia options
- A feeling of mild pressure or an urge to cough during the procedure
- The duration varies with the centre and the procedure
What is the difference between flexible and rigid bronchoscopy?
Flexible bronchoscopy is done with a thin, bendable tube. It is often chosen for looking at the airways, taking tissue samples and washing; it is usually done under sedation and is more comfortable for the patient.
The rigid bronchoscope is a wider, stiff tube. It can be used in treatment procedures such as controlling bleeding in the airway, removing a foreign body or opening narrowings, and it needs general anaesthesia.
- Flexible bronchoscopy is mostly preferred for diagnostic examinations.
- A rigid bronchoscope may be used for bleeding control, a foreign body or treating a narrowing.
- Your doctor decides which method is suitable according to your condition.
For the bronchoscopic methods used in COPD, see our page on bronchoscopic treatments in COPD.
After the procedure
The numbness in your throat lasts 1–2 hours. You should not eat or drink anything during this time. There may be a mild cough, a sore throat and a small amount of bloodstained phlegm. If a biopsy was taken, sudden shortness of breath or chest pain should be watched for. These may be signs of air leaking between the membranes around the lung (pneumothorax). Biopsy results (pathology) are available in 3–10 days.
When do bronchoscopy results come out?
The imaging findings during the procedure can often be assessed straight away. For a definite answer, however, the samples that were taken have to be examined, so not all of the results may be ready as soon as the procedure ends.
How long results take depends on the type of sample:
- Tissue samples prepared for pathology may take longer.
- Culture samples need to wait for any germs to grow.
- The assessment of samples such as washing fluid varies.
Your doctor decides when the results will be given to you and what your treatment plan will be; the results are shared with you at your follow-up appointment. As you prepare for your visit, our page on what to bring with you may help.
Risks
Bleeding may occur. It is most common when a biopsy is taken. Oxygen levels may drop briefly, the airways may tighten (bronchospasm) or a fever may develop. Rarely, air may leak between the membranes around the lung (pneumothorax). A reaction to the medicines that make you sleepy may also occur. Serious problems are rare. An experienced team and good preparation reduce the risk.
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
Is it suitable for you?
Book an appointment and bring your breathing test and chest CT scan reports. We decide together at the consultation. If you are coming from outside Istanbul, an online preliminary consultation can be held first.
Please bring: your breathing test, your chest CT scan report and images (CD/USB), your list of medicines and, if you have one, your blood gas test result.
HAVE A QUESTION?
Frequently asked questions
The questions our patients and their relatives ask most often, with answers. We discuss questions about your own situation together at the consultation.
APPOINTMENT
Book an appointment for a preliminary assessment
To find out whether you are suitable, book a preliminary assessment appointment. Bring your breathing test, chest CT scan report and list of medicines with you.
info@yalcinkarakoca.com · Rüzgarlıbahçe Mah. Cumhuriyet Cad. Hasoğlu Plaza Kat:3, Kavacık / Beykoz, İstanbul
This page is for general information purposes. It does not replace a medical examination or diagnosis. Treatment decisions are made during an examination, on an individual basis. In an emergency, call 112.
Medical content review: Prof. Dr. Yalçın Karakoca, Pulmonologist · Last updated: 25 September 2026