Bronchoscopy (pronounced bron-KOS-ko-pee) is a common procedure that allows direct visual examination of the upper airway and lungs. During bronchoscopy a physician inserts a bronchoscope, which is a small flexible tube about the width of a pencil, through the patient’s nose or mouth and into the windpipe (trachea). Sampling of respiratory tract secretions and cells, and biopsy of airway, lung, and other structures is also accomplished with bronchoscopy.

Bronchoscopy may be performed if a patient is coughing up blood, has a persistent cough that is not responding to usual medications, has unusual chest x-rays, or has a disease of the lung or other respiratory complications.

A related procedure, called bronchoalveolar lavage, is used to obtain a “liquid biopsy” of the airways and air sacs deep within the lung. During this procedure, a bronchoscope is inserted into the lung, sterile saline fluid is infused and then suctioned back, thus retrieving cells, protein and microorganisms for medical analysis.

For more information see:
Bronchoscopy Patient Education Guide from the American College of Chest Physicians:
http://www.chestnet.org/health.science.policy/patient.education.guides/bronchoscopy.pted.htm

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy:
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section6/chapter65/65g.htm

Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas [pro: su-doh-MO-nas] are bacteria known for their ability to cause disease in humans, animals and plants, and for their resistance to most commonly used antibiotics. They occur naturally in soil and water, and also live on the surfaces of plants and animals, including humans. One type of the bacteria, called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is often found in humans but doesn't cause illness unless a person is already sick or has a weakened immune system. It can cause infections of the urinary tract, blood, lungs and airways, and any tissue that is already injured or compromised. It can also cause inflammation of the skin. Although Pseudomonas infections can be resistant to most commonly used antibiotics, there still remain effective antibiotic therapies for most strains.