What happens during bronchoscopy and BAL?
Bronchoscopy and BAL are often done by a pulmonologist. A pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating lung diseases.
A bronchoscopy usually includes the following steps:
You may need to remove some or all of your clothing. If so, you will be given a hospital gown.
You will recline in a chair that is like a dentist's chair or sit on a procedure table with your head raised.
You may get medicine (sedative) to help you relax. The medicine will be injected into a vein or given through an IV (intravenous) line that will be placed in your arm or hand.
Your provider will spray a numbing medicine in your mouth and throat, so you won't feel any pain during the procedure.
Your provider will insert the bronchoscope down your throat and into your airways.
As the bronchoscope is moved down, your provider will examine your lungs.
Your provider may perform other treatments at this time, such as removing a tumor or clearing a blockage.
At this point, you may also get a BAL.
During a BAL:
Your provider will put a small amount of saline through the bronchoscope.
After washing the airways, the saline is sucked up into the bronchoscope.
The saline solution will contain cells and other substances, such as bacteria, which will be taken to a lab for testing.
