bronkoskooppia

Bronkoskooppia, known in English as bronchoscopy, is a medical procedure that enables direct visualization of the airways—the larynx, trachea, and bronchial tree—using a bronchoscope. It may be diagnostic, allowing sampling of tissue or secretions, or therapeutic, addressing airway problems such as obstruction or bleeding.

There are two main types. Flexible bronchoscopy uses a slender, pliable scope with video or fiberoptic imaging and is most commonly used for routine diagnostic evaluation and sampling. Rigid bronchoscopy employs a straight metal tube and is less common today but remains useful for controlling major bleeding, removing large foreign bodies, or treating extensive airway obstruction, often in specialized centers.

Indications include persistent cough or unexplained symptoms, hemoptysis, abnormal findings on chest imaging, assessment of suspected airway lesions, evaluation of infections, and guidance for biopsy or sampling of the bronchial tree. Procedures for sampling include bronchial washing, brushings, and biopsies, with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) used for cytology or histology.

Therapeutic uses include relief of airway obstruction, placement of stents, balloon dilation of strictures, laser or other ablative therapies, and removal of foreign bodies. Preparation involves pre-procedure evaluation, fasting if required, avoidance or management of anticoagulants, and informed consent. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, via the nose or mouth, and patients are monitored during and after the procedure.

Risks include bleeding, pneumothorax, infection, bronchospasm, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. Bronchoscopy has a long history dating to the rigid form developed in the late 19th century, with flexible bronchoscopy advancing in the 1960s and becoming a routine tool in pulmonology.