A fiberoptic bronchoscope is a small (about as big as a shoelace) flexible tube.  It is similar to a very small telescope, in that the physician is able to insert the small scope into the airway and see the image of the inside of the airway on a television screen.  The physician may take pictures of his findings to review with your or with other physician's following the procedure.  This may tell the physician if your child has an infection and which type of medicine would be most effective to treat it.  Thy physician may also suction secretions through the channel, which may be interfering with your child's breathing.  This procedure may also be recommended if your doctor suspects that your child may have accidentally aspirated a foreign body into his/her airway.

     A bronchoscopy may be scheduled either as an outpatient or inpatient procedure.  The pulmonologist will discuss this with you, so that you may plan accordingly.  You will be instructed to have your child take nothing by mouth for six hours before the procedure.  This is very important because of the anesthetic, which will be used to make your child comfortable during the procedure.  Most flexible bronchoscopies are done in a procedure room adjacent to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at Mott Children's Hospital.  You will be instructed to check in at the outpatient surgery reception on the third level of Mott Hospital.  When it is time for your child's bronchoscopy, you may accompany him/her to the procedure room and remain with him/her until he/she is asleep.  The poeple who will be in attendance at your child's bronchoscopy will include the pulmonologist who will perform the procedure, a respiratory therapist who will assist the physician, an attending anesthetist, and a nurse anesthetist.  Small patches will be placed on your child's chest to connect him/her to a heart and respiration monitor.  Your child will be given a relaxing agent to breath, through a mask.  He/she will become comfortable and fall asleep very quickly.  You will then be shown to the family waiting room where you will stay until the physician comes to discuss his findings with you.  After you leave, an IV will be started in your child's hand or arm.  He/she will not feel this at all, as he/she will already be asleep.  The IV is used to give adequate anesthesia to your child, sufficient to ensure his/her comfort throughout the procedure,  The doctor may put the bronchoscope directly into your child's nose, or a small tube may be placed in his/her mouth; through which the doctor will insert the scope.  The scope is small enough to be guided into the smaller airways of your child's lungs.  In the meantime, the doctor will be viewing this process on the monitor which is at the bedside.  Your child will be asleep and very comfortable during this time.  When the physician has completed the procedure, your child will be moved into the recovery room, where he/she will be closely observed until he/she awakens completely.  They physician will join you in the waiting room to discuss his findings.  You may then be called into the recovery room to be with your child as he/she wakes up.  When the recovery room staff feels that your child is sufficiently alert and he/she is about to swallow liquids comfortably, you will receive discharge instructions,  You will be advised of when and how to get in touch with the pulmonologist should you have any questions or concerns wien you get home.  If your child is going to be admitted to the hospital for other tests or further observation you will then be taken to his/her room.