A pulmonologist typically performs a bronchoscopy in a hospital or surgical center as an outpatient procedure. This means you can go home after the procedure.

You’re typically given some medication to be sleepy and comfortable. Rigid bronchoscopy and many procedures that involve biopsies may require general anesthesia (being asleep). You should discuss which kind of anesthesia your procedure will require with your healthcare provider.

In most cases, a bronchoscopy follows these steps:

• Your provider inserts an IV into your arm to deliver a sedative to help you relax.
• You lie on a bed or table with your head propped up.
• Your provider may apply a numbing spray to your mouth (or nose) and throat. This helps with any discomfort you may feel when they insert the bronchoscope.
• Once the area is numb and you’re under sedation, your provider inserts the bronchoscope through your nose or mouth or through a tube, while you’re under anesthesia, and down into your windpipe to your lungs.
• Your provider may suction saliva (spit) from your mouth since you won’t be able to swallow.
• After the procedure, your provider gently removes the bronchoscope. Your healthcare team monitors your condition until you’re fully awake.

Most of the time, you’ll be sleepy, at least, if not asleep. It depends on what type of bronchoscopy you’re having and what your healthcare provider is diagnosing. Many people have the procedure with general anesthesia, and only some procedures can use a local anesthetic (numbing medicine).

You can expect a bronchoscopy to last 30 to 90 minutes. The exact timing depends on why your provider is performing the procedure.

In most cases, bronchoscopy is an outpatient procedure, so you won’t need to spend the night in the hospital. You can typically go home within a few hours of the procedure.

Your healthcare team will monitor you after the procedure to ensure you’re breathing and swallowing properly. Your provider may decide to order a chest X-ray after the procedure to check for any signs of problems.

You may have a numb throat for up to an hour. You may have a sore throat, cough, or hoarseness for the next 24 hours. Using cough drops can help with this. Most people can return to normal activities the next day. Your healthcare provider will let you know if you should restrict your activities in any way.

Your healthcare team will let you know when you should expect test results and when you should schedule a follow-up appointment.

You can expect to spend at least 45 minutes recovering, if not longer. Your healthcare team needs to monitor you while the sedation or anesthesia wears off and make sure your vital signs are normal. They also want to make sure you don’t experience any irregular side effects after the procedure.

You shouldn’t eat or drink until the numbness wears off, which could take an hour or more. Once you don’t feel numb, start by sipping water and eating soft foods. Eating and drinking too soon could cause you to breathe the food or drink into your lungs (aspirate) or choke.

Bronchoscopy is a very safe procedure, but there’s a slight risk of:

• A hole in your airway.
• Irritation or inflammation of your vocal cords.
• Lung collapse (pneumothorax).

In most cases, healthcare providers use a flexible bronchoscope, not the rigid bronchoscope. This is because the flexible type is easier to move around your airways and throat. And it provides better access to smaller areas of lung tissue. But some situations require a rigid scope.

Be sure to discuss the risks of a bronchoscopy before surgery. Ask your provider if you’re at a higher risk for complications.

Call your healthcare team if you have any of the following symptoms, which can indicate an infection, collapsed lung, or other problems:

• Chest pain.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Persistent fever.
• Persistent cough or coughing up blood.
• Signs of pneumonia.